Recently the Stop the Stadium web site published statements critical of the Otago Daily Times newspaper, its employees, its editorial staff and the paper’s owner. In particular it was alleged:-

1. “An ODT employee was filmed vandalising the School Mural.”

2. “The ODT hide what they’re told to hide and publish the sensational which sometimes is far from the truth.”

3. “The fact the The ODT filmed one of their own employees vandalising a school Mural with the express object of trying to discredit STS is unethical and disgraceful! I suggest that a complaint to the NZ Press Council is called for. Is this being contemplated? Have the ODT apologised in print to STS for their collusion in the damage they may have caused to STS reputation? I doubt it!”

It is accepted that no ODT employee has ever vandalised the school mural, no filming of the same was ever made or exists, and that the paper was never aware of this. The further claims made that this filming by the ODT was for the express object of trying to discredit STS is acknowledged to have no factual foundation. Further comments made that the ODT “hide and publish the sensational which sometimes is far from the truth”, that the paper’s owners dictate editorial policy and of a prejudiced editorial policy are also acknowledged to have no factual
basis or substance.

Stop the Stadium acknowledges the offence caused to employees of the ODT and the owners by the published comments. It is accepted that the published statements were untrue and Stop the Stadium apologises, without reservation for them.

We have stopped accepting comments for the time being.
Please check back in a few days.

Derek Gunn
StS Webmaster

We denigrate ourselves when we insult and attack each other.
It makes us none the wiser and only reinforces our prejudices.

• Use facts and logic as your weapons.
• Challenge those that disagree over our “10 facts“
• Put together 10 new reasons on why certain councillors should not be reelected.

We’ll all feel better about ourselves!

Most councillors in the DCC appear to have lost the plot.

They ignore the desires of the majority of their rate payers and push forward with their plans irrespective of the opinions of experts. One bit of democracy they can’t ignore are their local-body elections.

Help us send them on their way… Join us!

“Sort the System” has been chosen by Stop the Stadium’s committee as the new name for the organisation, part of changes to the constitution members will be asked to vote on this Sunday.

President Dave Witherow stated STS would not run candidates during next year’s local government elections but would promote “good governance” and get rid of those councillors who had supported the stadium.

ODT article

The future of Stop the Stadium as described by our president -
David Witherow

Read via PDF here: from D-scene

Stop the Stadium has been ordered to pay almost $10,000 court costs following its unsuccessful High Court bid in April to stop Dunedin’s ill-conceived stadium project.

Full article: the cost of trying to save Dunedin

Stop the Stadium’s lawyers are applying for $17,513 court costs from the Dunedin City Council following the organisation’s High Court challenge to the council’s funding of the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Full article: and DCC seeking $11K from StS

The Dunedin Ratepayers and Householders Association has issued a call to arms, urging people to “wake up”, and join the organisation “before it is too late”.

Full article: to arms

Stop the Stadium has a new president and a new mission, with major changes to the organisation following its annual meeting yesterday.

Full story: Dave Witherow is the new StS president