LATEST: infonews.co.nz can confirm "wairarapa school.revealed" Facebook page owners have stood down and have deleted the page as our reporters report that police are investigating.

CHRIS GOGGIN FRONTS UP 'That was me' 

infonews.co.nz has made investigations and can confirm one of the people involved was a ex Kuranui College student who was trying to make the page 'better' and went by the name 'Big Red'.

Many people who have reported this infomation to us said what he was involved in was cruel and could have been leathful. 

"I think it was cruel seeing if someone said one thing about him on that page, he would have lost it. he did say that he wasn't the only admin though," one person told infonews.co.nz.

infonews.co.nz tracked down the person involved trying to 'make it better' "Big red" and we asked him why he got involved.

"The publicity, your wife told me it was a fantacy of hers was to get with a famous person. That was my attempt."  Chris Goggin an admin for the page told infonews.co.nz

When we asked Chris Goggin what the owners name was he made no comment, instead replying "Thats all I knew him as, or her. I only knew your wife as Shhhh, she only knew me as BigRed."

"Want a decent article ? Read your wifes journal. It might be more an article for penthouse though.. I know the owners name but i am unwilling to divolge that to a journo"

Police say the "Wairarapa-Schools Revealed" page over Facebook should be deleted within the next 24 hours otherwise they will take "real action".

The page which was created yesterday is for bullying people and spreading fake rumours about people in front of over 130 people.

The page targeted one person who told infonews.co.nz that they cant wait till the person is caught, and now police can say they can link the owner to a specific school.

Investigations are continuing. 

BREAKING NEWS: A gossip page over social networking site Facebook has yet again been created this time for the Wairarapa region.

A gossip page is a page over Facebook that makes public announcments to people over Facebook in front of all of the pages friends.

A Facebook page called "Wairarapa-Schools Revealed" has been deleted by its owner.

One young female teenager spoke with infonews.co.nz and told our reporter she was targeted, we asked her how she felt and she replied. "I am pretty pissed off but whatever at the  end of the day they are the ones with no life"

She said she can't wait till the person who is doing this gets caught.

A person we spoke to said she was friends with 41 of the Facebook pages 73 friends and because that is a high amount infonews.co.nz is investigating into nearby Greytown schools. 

We spoke with residents of Greytown where some of the cyber-attacks are taking place and Matthew, 36 years old told infonews.co.nz "It's disgraceful, sad and disturbing."

infonews.co.nz has tried to get in contact with schools from around the region to let them know of the situation and some will be going as far as letting their students know what is taking place over Facebook.

'Internet Safe, its us' told infonews.co.nz they are making investigations into the page and can already link the owner of the page back to a specific school.

However tensions are growing in the region over the safety of high school students online and Andrea Wadey told us that she has high worries for some teenagers.

'ISNT A ONE OFF THING' - Reports

EXCLUSIVE: infonews.co.nz can reveal an investigation into a Taranaki Facebook goss page that was created late last year that targeted hundreds of people has caused police to be able to locate the owner of that page.

The Taranaki made page came to infonews.co.nz's attention when speculation went around of 14 year old Francis Douglas student Iziah Willetts watched his mum sunbath naked which was not true and he had the guts to speak up to media about the situation and told us the person had no life.

The person involved in the page was dealt with seriously by police and the school involved.

Out of all of the investigations infonews.co.nz has created on goss pages over the last two years we can confirm all articles got alot of feedback on the owners of the pages and meant police could find the cyber attackers.

Infonews.co.nz has just begun investigating.

Have you been targeted by this page? Do you know the person involved?

Let us know at infonews.co.nz by contacting infonznow@hotmail.co.nz

InternetNZ (Internet New Zealand Inc) welcomes today’s recommendation from the Law Commission that an independent News Media Standards Authority be established encompassing both traditional and ‘new’ media.

The new body would define news media standards to be applied to all types of publishers seeking to access the traditional privileges of being part of the news media. These standards would apply regardless of how they publish, whether online or off. This would include broadcast media such as print, radio and television, and web-based media such as Bloggers.

The proposed framework would be voluntary: if organisations wanted the benefits of being classed as media, they would need to accept the responsibilities associated with being covered by the new Authority.

InternetNZ spokesperson Susan Chalmers says it is pleasing to see that the Law Commission has recognised that regulation across media should be principles-based and technology-neutral.

The line between old media and new media has blurred almost beyond recognition. Traditional media and ‘new’ media can and do co-exist. The marriage of traditional media with Internet-based text, audio and visual communication has spawned a dazzling array of new media forms, with the Internet having well and truly levelled the playing field for news content.

"The Law Commission’s recommendation is based on the reality of a converged environment. It is key that we begin to address how the Internet is challenging regulatory frameworks in New Zealand. Updating the framework for the news media sector is a great first step," says Chalmers.

InternetNZ supports the independence of the proposed new body and the Law Commission’s recommendation that a review of the entertainment sector is also undertaken. InternetNZ also supports the voluntary nature of the new regulatory regime, noting that this is in line with its submissions to the Law Commission in response to the issues paper that led to today’s proposals.

“These recommendations are in keeping with the general direction of updating regulatory frameworks to take account of the Internet environment,” she says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has tabled in Parliament today the Law Commission’s report on regulation of the news media in the digital age.

The report, The News Media Meets ‘New Media’: Rights, Responsibilities and Regulation in the Digital Age, provides the Law Commission’s recommendations for updating laws regulating our media for the digital era.

The Government will examine the report’s recommendations and seek views from the media industry before formally responding to the report later this year.

“The news media plays a vital role in our democracy. It is important it operates as freely as possible, while maintaining the traditional journalistic values of accuracy and fair reporting.

“However, many of the laws governing media regulations, freedoms and protections pre-date the digital era. Nowadays, virtually anyone with a computer and an internet connection can publish and spread news and opinion,” Ms Collins says.

Meanwhile, the Government is already considering recommendations by the Law Commission to address harmful digital communications. The topic was originally part of the new media review, but Ms Collins asked the Law Commission to fast-track that work, due to concerns about cyber-bullying.

“I thank the Law Commission for its work and analysis in a topical and challenging area,” Ms Collins says.

Federated Farmers is concerned at the photograph on the front-page banner of this morning’s NZ Herald and again at page five. In particular, Federated Farmers is concerned that this is being incorrectly linked to drought.   

We understand from inquiries that the animal shown had suffered a major injury.  A vet had attended and a decision was taken to end its suffering; this was appropriate, humane and has absolutely nothing to do with the current drought. 

Members of Federated Farmers are rightfully concerned the photo is in bad taste and lacks context.

Federated Farmers feels the NZ Herald has made a story fit an image. It wrongly creates the impression there are widespread animal welfare issues when in fact there aren’t.

We have asked the Ministry for Primary Industries and they report the condition of stock coming through for processing is no different now than it was before the various drought declarations.

Farmers are responsibly sending stock away while they are in good condition.  Furthermore, livestock have to meet all animal welfare requirements on the transportation of stock.  For the occasional animal that has suffered a debilitating injury or illness, then humane slaughter on-farm may be appropriate under the animal welfare code.

A Massey journalism professor says it is heartening to see the strong support an Australian newspaper is giving one of its reporters, despite pressure from its major shareholders.

Senior lecturer Dr Catherine Strong says the actions of Gina Rinehart, Australia’s richest woman who is also the major shareholder at Fairfax, serves as a reminder about the importance of journalists protecting their sources.

She says the issue also raises questions about the ethics of a major media shareholder taking legal action against an employee of the same media company.

Gina Rinehart has gone to court to force a journalist to release notes and details of interviews she held with family members. The journalist, Adele Ferguson, from the Fairfax newspaper group in Australia, has written an unauthorised biography of Rinehart that details a financial feud in the media mogul’s family.

Dr Strong, from the School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, says Rinehart’s actions differ from previous efforts by the rich and powerful to force media to bend to their will.

“It is common for powerful people to try to force journalists to turn over their confidential notes, but it is unusual for the pressure to come from someone who is financially involved in the news media business.”

The case is a reminder that young journalists need to appreciate that they can’t accept information “off the record” unless they are prepared to go to court, and possibly jail, to protect the source of the information, Dr Strong says.

“But young journalists also can have confidence that they will be protected if they work for a reputable media company. Fairfax has shown its strong media freedom principles by saying it gives 100 per cent support to its journalist’s right to protect her sources.”

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) is today launching a new addition to the media information section of the NZTA website, where the agency will publish its responses to Official Information Act (OIA) requests from media organisations.

The new section is aimed at providing an additional resource for journalists and members of the public seeking information from the agency.

Responses to most OIA requests from media will be published on the NZTA website one day after the response is provided to the media organisation which has made the request. This will provide the media organisation which has requested the information a period of time to review the response before it becomes available to members of the public and other media outlets.

Responses to OIA requests provided to media since October 2012 have been made available at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/media/oia.html, and new responses will be published as they are provided to media outlets.

This month MiNDFOOD celebrates five successful years, which in today’s marketplace of doom and decline, is a huge achievement.

As other magazines have folded, merged or been acquired by global publishing houses, this independent and growing media hub, created by husband and wife team Michael and Michelle McHugh, is flourishing due to its ability to respond to both audience and environment quickly, strategically and cleverly.

Michael McHugh comments, “We have a large audience arriving at MiNDFOOD every day. Online we have over 300,000 unique users per month, 30,000 downloads of our app (recently listed as Apple’s Best of 2012 apps), 310,000 newsletters sent out every week, 32,000 daily recipes that people have signed up for with a 38% open rate, 7,400 facebook users and 8,400 Twitter followers.  We’re selling 35,000 magazines each month with a readership of over 190,000, the average age of the reader is 43, and it continues to grow.  I guess in publishing years, five is like being 20 and we are really proud of what we have achieved and, more importantly, what’s still to come.” 

MiNDFOOD is now being sold in the UK, Asia and the Middle East having initially been launched in NZ, then in Australia.  There is also a syndicated MiNDFOOD weekly radio show across 50 stations in Australia, cookbooks, DVDs, cooking schools, health symposiums and a lot more to come!

MiNDFOOD is an integrated media brand delivering information from New Zealand and around the world. The magazine and website feature television, podcast, electronic newsletters, features, recipes, photographs and daily updates (www.mindfood.com) The fifth birthday issue (out Monday, 4 March) is a bumper issue embracing the magazine’s unique strapline - Smart Thinking.

Available in newsagents, dairies and supermarkets nationwide, with a cover price of $9.90, subscriptions can also be purchased online at www.mindfood.com.

The Vodafone Warriors are gearing up for their pre-season match against the Penrith Panthers on Saturday 16 February and in the lead up to the game, there are some great media and photo opportunities.

Below is an advisory that lists these events and the details for each one.

Thursday 7 February: Photos and autographs
7.00 – 8.30pm
In store at Canterbury and Vodafone, Te Awa, The Base
Four players, Nathan Friend, Jacob Lillyman, Elijah Taylor and Charlie Gubb will be appearing in store for photos and autographs
Public event

Wednesday 13 February: Coach the Coaches
6.00 – 7.00pm
Novotel Hotel
Local accredited rugby League club coaches (approx 30) will be mentored by the Penrith Panthers coaching team including former Warriors Coach, Ivan Cleary
A unique chance for the local rugby league community to get tips from the big guys
Private event - media may attend. Please let me know if you wish to attend this.

Friday 15 February: School visits
9-12am
Four schools to be visited. The names of these schools will be confirmed within the next couple of days.
Media are welcome by arrangement.

1-3pm
Four schools to be visited. The names of these schools will be confirmed within the next couple of days.
Media are welcome by arrangement.

Friday 15 February: Meet the Warriors
12-1pm
Garden Place
Four players will be in Garden Place for photos and autographs
Public event

Saturday 16 February: Junior Club Carnival Day
10am – 2.30pm
Waikato Stadium, Mill St Field
Local Rugby League Clubs play a tournament
Public event

Available files

• Poster: Injury Information Matters – jpg   (1.83mb)
• Poster: Injury Information Matters   (PDF, 1 page, 2.30mb)

This poster describes why injury information matters. When a person is injured, information is collected to help the injured person receive the care they need. This information can also be used to prevent injuries. Once the confidential facts such as names and addresses are removed, the information is combined and analysed by government agencies, researchers, and communities. It tells the story about how, why, when, and where injuries tend to occur.

To make New Zealand a safer place to live, work, and play, injury information should be shared. Government agencies use this to develop injury prevention policies, programmes, and legislation. Communities across New Zealand also use the information to plan their injury prevention activities. By sharing information and working together we can help to prevent injuries.