Dear readers, we are happy to inform that we have finished analysing the feedback on our last year’s pilot launch of Multicultural Times (MT), New Zealand’s first nation-wide multicultural newspaper. As was the case with our Christchurch-based multicultural newspaper, The Migrant Times (TMT), MT too received innumerable accolades, appreciation and love from all of you. We are also very grateful to various communities, leaders, decision-makers and organisations from across the country who have shown immense faith in the idea of MT, and TMT before that. Based on the feedback, and after a lot of introspection, we have taken two strategic decisions to ensure that we continue to lead New Zealand’s journalism landscape towards diversity and innovation, while staying true to the basic tenets of the fourth estate. 1) The future of journalism is digital. We will continue publishing MT on our various digital media platforms and will cease publication of our print version. The reach, engagement and scope of innovation in the digital space is far superior to print. The financial viability is also superior in digital, due to the trade-off between the cost of production and results achieved. A better reach, engagement, innovation and viability, will ultimately lead to better-quality journalism for our society. 2) The future of journalism is data and artificial intelligence (AI). We are exploring how to use open data and natural language generation techniques to generate quality content and narrative stories, pertaining to local issues relevant to people’s everyday lives. We are immensely excited.

Stay tuned.

Hit and Run: My book is dedicated to New Zealand military - Nicky Hager, author and investigative journalist

Hit and Run: My book is dedicated to New Zealand military - Nicky Hager, author and investigative journalist

Migrants Centre
News, Interviews

- this is a moral test for the country as well, he adds

Nicky Hager, author of Hit and Run, co-written with war correspondent Jon Stephenson, addressing the gathering on April 6, at the Transitional Cathedral in Christchurch. The public meeting was organised by the Christchurch Progressive Network led by last year's mayoral candidate John Minto. "The book is about what the New Zealand military – and especially the Special Air Service (SAS) – did in Afghanistan in response to the first New Zealander dying in combat in August 2010," said Hager while releasing the book in March. 

Quotes from Nicky Hager:

  • "I dedicate my book to New Zealand's military. You have to remember that it was someone from the military itself who came to me with the story in the first place."
  • "While there may have been other raids like these which involved NZ's SAS, this is the most horrible example that is in my knowledge where rules were not followed."
  • "I am actually very happy with the response of the opposition parties. Labour has said that they will order an enquiry into the raid if they come to power in September."
  • "The issue raised in the book is a moral test for New Zealand. What matters are not the noble declarations, but what we do about hard and uneasy issues like these."
  • "The Government has been doing what they always do. It denies, divert and hopes the issue dies."   
  • "Hit and Run is based on numerous and extensive interviews with people involved in these events, including New Zealand and Afghan military personnel as well as residents of the villages. All wanted this story told to recognise the dead and the injured. This story also needs to be told to ensure our military is held to account for its actions."
  • “Whether or not the public agreed with New Zealand sending troops to the US-led war in Afghanistan, there is no doubt that what the SAS did was wrong and betrayed the defence force’s core values of courage, commitment and integrity.”    
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