A Moral Truth: 150 Years of Investigative Journalism in New Zealand

by James Hollings (Editor)

New Zealand has a long and rich tradition of journalism that holds power to account. These stories, dating from 1863 to the present day, go beyond allegation and denial to reveal hidden truths. Some will be well known. Many will not. Some still shock and disturb. All show the craft, compassion, toil and persistence of the journalists and editors who unveiled them. The 33 groundbreaking pieces include:

Pat Booth on the Crewe murders
NZ Truth against the death penalty
Philip Kitchin on a police sex ring
Robin Hyde on Bastion Point
Matt Nippert on Facebook’s tax avoidance
Lesley Max on the death of two-year-old Delcelia Witika
Rebecca Macfie on Pike River
Mike White on the Lundy murders
Sandra Coney and Phillida Bunkle on National Women’s unfortunate experiment
Bruce Ansley on selling the high country to foreigners
Nicky Hager on dirty politics
Donna Chisholm on David Dougherty

420 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2017

Reviews

[Simon Mee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This culture of censorship is, I would argue, one of the great blind spots in the New Zealand discourse, and has had a chilling effect on journalists' ability to fulfil their watchdog role.

I believe there is good journalism in New Zealand and that there has always been good journalism in New Zealand. This book is a reminder of that, for while self congratulatory by it's very nature, it gathers together articles that we may have forgotten about, running from the origins of the Waikato War to present day.

A Moral Truth is about the exposures of the flaws in New Zealand society, often being miscarriages of justice, racism, child abuse, medical misadventure,  tied together investigative journalists' battles against authorities notably unwilling to communicate or accept fault.

A Health Department spokeswoman said on Friday no one had resigned, or would resign, over the issue.

It's an ugly image of New Zealand that appears in these pages.  There are ratepayers regarding dirt and disease as necessary evils. Hairdressers who ban Maori in Pukekohe. A death rate that went up 30 percent for children in 20 years, putting us 25th out of 27 OECD countries. A police force denying it was engaging in Dawn Raids because 6.30am is not dawn.

I think that's what made A Moral Truth so interesting to me. Even when it's not my experience of New Zealand,  it's someone's experience, all brought to my attention by journalistic endeavours.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super interesting. each theme was a major in new Zealand history and man the stories were written so well.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Moral Truth" contains extracts from some of the major New Zealand newspapers and magazines from the last 150 years. Subjects covered include the Arthur Allen Thomas case, the Dougherty case, the Teina Pora case, the Louise Nicholas case, the Unfortunate Experiment at National Women's Hospital, just to name a few. Reading the extract about what happened to Delcelia Wittaker all those years ago hit me like a fresh punch to the chest. Some of these stories will shock and disturb you, but these extracts are a reminder as to the importance of good investigative journalism to a fair and just society and we need to remember these cases and the hidden truths unveiled.

[Toni Duder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look over 150 years of investigative journalism in NZ. I really enjoyed rereading the stories and the contextual introductions provided by Hollings. I recommend this for anyone interested in NZ history and societal issues.