FROM THE NEWS DESK

It was hard to say who was the winner of the leader’s debate, between National’s Bill English and Labour’s Jacinda Ardern, broadcast on TV One recently. I say that because there seemed to be more pre-debate talk about how host Mike Hosking would manage the debate, rather than how the two leaders would handle the questions. Was Mr Hosking a good choice for the job? TVNZ seem to think so and backed him despite public criticism about his perceived favouritism of National. He got stuck into the prime minister about the state of the country’s rivers while pressing Jacinda Ardern hard on policy details. But it did appear that Mr Hosking was the central attraction when it should have been the leaders. It almost had that game show feel about it. Could anyone else do a better job than Mr Hosking? I would like to put forward the following candidates: TVNZ political editor Corin Dan; long-time broadcaster Peter Williams; Radio NZ’s John Campbell, Susie Ferguson, Guyon Espiner or Mihingarangi Forbes.

Lawrence Gullery Piako Post, 19 Allen St, Morrinsville, PO Box 125, Morrinsville, Phone 07 889 7099. AREA MANAGER: Jason Douthett (jason.douthett@fairfaxmedia.co.nz) 027 705 1512. NEWS DIRECTOR: Lawrence Gullery, lawrence.gullery@fairfaxmedia.co.nz, 027 839 6388. JOURNALISTS: Katrina Tanirau, katrina.tanirau@fairfaxmedia.co.nz, 849 9583, 027 201 6310 & Mike Bain, 027 216 3691, mike.bain@fairfaxmedia.co.nz DISPLAY SALES CONSULTANT: Emah Hira Matiu (emah.hiramatiu@fairfaxmedia.co.nz) 027 405 2618. SALES CO-ORDINATOR: Natalia Berben, natalia.berben@fairfaxmedia.co.nz, 0274 034 054. CLASSIFIEDS: Kathy Robertson, kathryn.robertson@fairfaxmedia.co.nz, 889 8490. DISPLAY DEADLINES: Booking and copy: Thursday prior, 4pm. CLASSIFIED: Liner: Tuesday prior, 9am. Semi-display: Monday prior, 10am. AUDITED CIRCULATION: 11,515.