I think it's an active strategy by the National Party to avoid reporting of any machinations they get up to in running the country and to help out their businessman mates in the event of any problems with businesses and the usual unwanted calling of attention to unsatisfactory products and services.
Muldoon conducted a minor war on reporters who reported adversely according to him.
Muldoon conducted a minor war on reporters who reported adversely according to him.
It's not the least charm of a theory that it is refutable. The hundred-times-refuted theory of "free will" owes its persistence to this charm alone; some one is always appearing who feels himself strong enough to refute it - Friedrich Nietzsche