Key 'disappointed' by NZ's Argo portrayal

Email
Print

Key 'disappointed' by NZ's Argo portrayal

3News NZ

John Key is unimpressed with Hollywood movie Argo's portrayal of New Zealand

John Key is unimpressed with Hollywood movie Argo's portrayal of New Zealand

The latest best picture Oscar winner, Argo, has upset politicians here, who say it paints New Zealand as cowardly.

The Prime Minister says the depiction is disappointing and two former Foreign Ministers have called for the film's producers to apologise.

Ben Affleck is in post-Oscar glory, with a message to Kiwis.

“I love New Zealand and I love New Zealanders,” he says. “I'm tempted to end there. It's tricky.”

It's tricky because some of the facts in his award-winning film are partially wrong. It shows how New Zealand responded to taking in six US diplomatic hostages in Iran in 1979, saying the Kiwis turned them away and the Canadians took them in.

But in the real story, we did more than that. The book Our Man in Tehran says that despite being caught in a box, because Iran was New Zealand’s largest customer for lamb, New Zealand went considerably beyond their mandate. Former ambassador Chris Beeby, who died 13 years ago, visited the hostages. He even rented a house the hostages could have used if they were discovered by the Iranians.

Our Prime Minister's unimpressed with Hollywood.

“It's a bit disappointing,” says John Key.

“I think it's constructed as well as it could possibly be,” says Affleck.

Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff says that is “not really good enough”. Mr Goff knew how far Mr Beeby went to help out, and says Affleck should say sorry.

“Just trying to put it right would be the best way of apologising to New Zealand,” says Mr Goff.

So too does another former Foreign Minister, Winston Peters. But the current Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, says he'd like to see the film before deciding whether he too wants an apology.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

22/03/2013 4:48:46 a.m.

john griffin milton wrote:

but the Argo reference is true. you have up and comings who want to push away everyone else who has been for their own sense of heroism. and the truth that Argo speaks of in now, not then. I would not trust you behind me.

6/03/2013 1:20:23 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

Well this is easily solved. Given that Mr Key likes Holywood he can have the NZ history books changed so that NZ's involvwment mathces that of the movie storyline.

28/02/2013 9:13:13 p.m.

Snide1 wrote:

Really moderators? There's other sites Carlos can post his racists rants on. Why leave them up on yours? Is there a hidden message in that? Or are you upholding the principle of free speech... Maintaining journalistic integrity perhaps.

28/02/2013 6:19:48 a.m.

alison wrote:

@ JUST ME, Well said. This govt should get their governing right before throwing stones. There are much more important matters at hand. Now the Hobbit papers are out and Keys been made a fool again he suddenly doesnt like Hollywood. Who cares. Do the job you were elected to do Key.

27/02/2013 11:46:28 p.m.

Mike wrote:

Sure Dan, of course if it effected you directly you would want your say. Cry babies? for putting ones country on the line to help these people and in return years later being portrayed as cowards? anyone would be offended by that backhand. If anything we are famous for letting our selfs get the short end of the stick, good old gullible easy going nzers for ever being walked over.

27/02/2013 10:47:08 p.m.

Dan wrote:

There are so many movies with huge historical inaccuracies, I'm not the least bit surprised this one is the same. Demanding an apology from the film makers serves no purpose other than to make us look like a small, insecure, crybaby country... I guess at least that's historically accurate.

27/02/2013 9:49:06 p.m.

Carlos wrote:

It was a long time ago, and the main fact is, that we now all know that Iran and muslims are the scum of the earth !

27/02/2013 7:17:30 p.m.

Just Me wrote:

I guess this is John Key's attempt to deflect his involvement with Hollywood when it came to The Hobbit filming and demands by Hollywood to change our tax laws to suit them.To make a movie interesting there is need for sensationalism in the filming.I am sure Ben Affleck had reason for doing what he did and that is that. To me there is no need for Ben Affleck to apologise for the film. To me it's more important right now that this government apologise for more important matters e.g the Novopay debacle etc. In due course I am sure Argo will be forgotten and consigned to the history books.The Novopay matter which affects so many is a bigger concern.Likewise with the recession that is still hitting us hard. Not a day or a week goes by now without hearing more companies laying off staff. So to Key I suggest you stop sounding like the Queen by saying "I'm not impressed" and concentrate more the important matters and that is not how you and your mates in the government and in the various businesses you associate with can make more money for your own pockets.