Scrutiny of candidates prompts pushback and claims of 'agendas'

Scrutiny of political parties' policies intensified this week - and so did the scrutiny of some candidates for seats in Parliament. When TVNZ reported some election candidates' controversial past statements this week, critics hit back with claims its own news was compromised. Scrutiny of political parties' policies intensified this week - and so did the scrutiny of some candidates for seats in Parliament. When TVNZ reported some election candidates' controversial past statements this week, critics hit back with claims its own news was compromised. TVNZ recently revealed one ACT candidate had resigned after social media posts comparing Covid restrictions to Nazi concentration camps came to light.Another another ACT candidate apologised for comments made during the occupation of Parliament calling the former prime minister 'Jabcinda' and suggesting drowning victims had died from the Covid vaccine."I was just asking questions. It wasn't actually my genuine belief," he told 1News.Last Tuesday 1 News reported a senior ACT MP already in Parliament also had some 'out there' views that were out there on social media before he entered Parliament MP Mark Cameron had said "climate change is a hoax or that people who think the planet is warming are nut jobs". The Spinoff's Toby Manhire found plenty more where that came from in MP Mark Cameron's Twitter account. But when Benedict Collins pressed David Seymour about that last Monday, the ACT leader accused him of "B-grade journalism". In reply, Collins pointed out Cameron could be a Cabinet minister after the upcoming election. But Seymour did have one media voice in his corner for his criticism of TVNZ's news judgment."Trying to drag that up... is really just B-grade journalism," Mike Hosking told his Newstalk ZB listeners last Tuesday morning. But it wasn't TVNZ's inquiries into the ACT MP which wound him up as much as a story in the media last week - the publicly funded Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority buying airtime on TVNZ news shows last year."Their defence was that in the corner of the screen allegedly was some sort of recognition that the EECA was involved. Now that - in my 42 years in this industry - does not even come close to covering your badly exposed arse," he said.Hosking reckoned TVNZ's news story about Act MP Cameron was connected. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details