The boss of Pharmac has come under fire today for writing disparaging emails about journalist Rachel Smalley.

Sarah Fitt wrote several emails to her team about Smalley and in one of them Fitt shares one of Smalley's articles about cancer patients with the subject line "sigh".

Other emails have staff members making fun of the journalist, writing a limerick about her and celebrating when she lost her job.

Pharmac's chair Steve Maharey called the internal emails unacceptable and unprofessional, and said Fitt had apologised for the language used in the email.

The public service commissioner said the comments were completely unacceptable, and Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said she was disappointed.

Smalley spoke to Heather about what happened.



LISTEN ABOVE

The boss of Pharmac has come under fire today for writing disparaging emails about journalist Rachel Smalley.
Sarah Fitt wrote several emails to her team about Smalley and in one of them Fitt shares one of Smalley's articles about cancer patients with the subject line "sigh".
Other emails have staff members making fun of the journalist, writing a limerick about her and celebrating when she lost her job.
Pharmac's chair Steve Maharey called the internal emails unacceptable and unprofessional, and said Fitt had apologised for the language used in the email.
The public service commissioner said the comments were completely unacceptable, and Health Minister Ayesha Verrall said she was disappointed.
Smalley spoke to Heather about what happened.
 
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Rachel Smalley: Journalist on Pharmac's snarky emails

Labour wants to help state tenants to get a foot on the property ladder.

It's proposing a rent-to-buy scheme, with Kainga Ora putting aside $100 rent a week, working up to a deposit.

The party would also lift the income cap for five percent deposits, to $300,000, making more buyers eligible.

Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says getting these renters out of the 'poverty trap' will benefit the whole country.

"The announcement today to expand the 5 percent deposit and also have a scheme to actually get Kainga Ora tenants out of state housing, out of the poverty trap and into home ownership, I think is something that will benefit the whole country." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Labour wants to help state tenants to get a foot on the property ladder.
It's proposing a rent-to-buy scheme, with Kainga Ora putting aside $100 rent a week, working up to a deposit.
The party would also lift the income cap for five percent deposits, to $300,000, making more buyers eligible.
Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says getting these renters out of the 'poverty trap' will benefit the whole country.
"The announcement today to expand the 5 percent deposit and also have a scheme to actually get Kainga Ora tenants out of state housing, out of the poverty trap and into home ownership, I think is something that will benefit the whole country."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Kieran McAnulty: Labour Housing Spokesperson on the party's rent-to-buy scheme for state housing tenants

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/557df1af-804d-48ee-b7d0-b4f0004da3df/transcript

Nick Hill is the principal of Christchurch Boys’ High School, and I have no doubt he is a very good headmaster with the best of intentions. But I am not exaggerating when I say I am shocked by the argument he seems so keen to advance.

Last month, he wrote an article for the Herald, and this month he has doubled down on those views in a letter to principals. In that letter, he urges schools to stop recruiting rugby players, arguing there is a link between the recruitment of talented schoolboy rugby players and sexual offending.

He says his thinking has been influenced by Chanel Contos, an Australian advocate who has written about allegations of sexual offending by students at an elite Sydney school. Her argument is that this behaviour stems from a broader cultural problem in some schools, where boys are taught to feel entitled.

Nick Hill argues that rugby recruitment can reinforce that sense of entitlement. He says  when schools recruit a 14-year-old because of his rugby ability, offer him a scholarship and treat him differently because of his sporting talent, what is he learning? He learns that talent brings special treatment.

I can't claim to know any schoolboys talented enough to have been recruited for rugby scholarships but I doubt they are all, or even many of them, sexual offenders or sexually entitled. On the contrary, I think school rugby recruitment is often a very positive thing. In many cases, it gives young men from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to attend schools and access opportunities they otherwise would never have had because their parents could not afford the fees.

I suspect many people will read both the article and the letter and be offended by the link that has been drawn here. As I said, I think Nick Hill means well but the connection he has made stretches credibility and is, frankly, unfair on young men.

LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Hill is the principal of Christchurch Boys’ High School, and I have no doubt he is a very good headmaster with the best of intentions. But I am not exaggerating when I say I am shocked by the argument he seems so keen to advance.
Last month, he wrote an article for the Herald, and this month he has doubled down on those views in a letter to principals. In that letter, he urges schools to stop recruiting rugby players, arguing there is a link between the recruitment of talented schoolboy rugby players and sexual offending.
He says his thinking has been influenced by Chanel Contos, an Australian advocate who has written about allegations of sexual offending by students at an elite Sydney school. Her argument is that this behaviour stems from a broader cultural problem in some schools, where boys are taught to feel entitled.
Nick Hill argues that rugby recruitment can reinforce that sense of entitlement. He says &nbsp;when schools recruit a 14-year-old because of his rugby ability, offer him a scholarship and treat him differently because of his sporting talent, what is he learning? He learns that talent brings special treatment.
I can't claim to know any schoolboys talented enough to have been recruited for rugby scholarships but I doubt they are all, or even many of them, sexual offenders or sexually entitled. On the contrary, I think school rugby recruitment is often a very positive thing. In many cases, it gives young men from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to attend schools and access opportunities they otherwise would never have had because their parents could not afford the fees.
I suspect many people will read both the article and the letter and be offended by the link that has been drawn here. As I said, I think Nick Hill means well but the connection he has made stretches credibility and is, frankly, unfair on young men.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: I'm shocked by Nick Hill's rugby argument

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/004bac0a-7142-4526-9efb-b4ee002d6940/transcript

For the first time, the odds driving past an NZ-built motorhome are higher than ever.

After a boom-bust cycle during COVID, New Zealand's motorhome market is starting to stabilise, and it's no longer a boomer-dominated market. 

Kiwi motorhome company TrailLite's joint Managing Director Shaun Newman says, "for a lot of people, a holiday house isn't a viable option for them anymore."

He says motorhomes and caravans offer a cheaper and more versatile holiday for families.

LISTEN ABOVE

 

For the first time, the odds driving past an NZ-built motorhome are higher than ever.
After a boom-bust cycle during COVID, New Zealand's motorhome market is starting to stabilise, and it's no longer a boomer-dominated market.&nbsp;
Kiwi motorhome company TrailLite's joint Managing Director Shaun Newman says, "for a lot of people, a holiday house isn't a viable option for them anymore."
He says motorhomes and caravans offer a cheaper and more versatile holiday for families.
LISTEN ABOVE
&nbsp;

Shaun Newman: TrailLite joint Managing Director says younger kiwis are taking an interest in motorhomes

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b4c84587-8d76-4b49-be25-b4ed016e57b2/transcript

Rachel Smalley: Journalist on Pharmac's snarky emails

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