Graham Bloxham, a candidate for Wellington’s mayoralty, has issued a direct response to what he calls a misleading and biased opinion piece written about him in the rapidly declining Post newspaper. The piece, written by Tom Hunt, is not a fair investigation, according to Bloxham, but rather another example of how mainstream media is choosing to shape political narratives instead of informing the public honestly.

Bloxham wants to make some facts absolutely clear. He owns the company Wellington Live Ltd — that has always been public information. Anyone can look that up through the official Companies Office website. Transparency around this has never been in question. What the Post fails to mention is that Wellington Live “One Network” is not a company, and he does not own it anymore. The current owners have deliberately chosen not to reveal their identities because they do not want to be dragged into the kind of storytelling the public saw from Tom Hunt. Bloxham does, however, continue to provide content for the Wellington Live One Network and several other platforms.

These platforms operate in a completely different way from traditional media. They generate far more community engagement while working with very modest overheads — around 1% of the cost of one of New Zealand’s mainstream media giants. They also allow for more diversity of opinion and broader community insights. It’s a people’s model. It doesn’t follow old structures. It’s about modern, community-driven storytelling. That seems to be a problem for mainstream outlets stuck in the past.

Let’s be clear. Media in New Zealand, especially the large outlets, are businesses. They rely on regular and repeatable revenue. During COVID, these same organisations received $68 million in public money. In addition, large contracts were awarded by Labour across departments like health and others. That raises a serious question: can any media that depends on public funds be expected to report critically or independently? Bloxham believes it is no coincidence that since the pandemic, public trust in media has dropped. The truth is catching up with the old saying — “he who pays the piper calls the tune.”

Bloxham has never claimed to be a perfect candidate or person. He is disruptive by nature. He was not raised with a silver spoon. He does not belong to any political party or movement. These things are also public record. But what he does bring is a strong sense of principle. He’s deeply concerned about the direction Wellington is heading in, and he’s had enough of the media trying to predetermine political outcomes. That kind of manipulation cuts to the heart of natural justice. It also fuels a growing sense of hopelessness among voters. But that hopelessness isn’t the end of the story. Many are beginning to see what’s really happening.

The bigger issue here is the state of Wellington’s governance. Both the Council and the media are becoming dinosaurs — stuck in old ways, weighed down by high costs, and failing to meet public expectations. The Council’s administrative and operating costs are out of control. For the 2023/2024 financial year, Wellington City Council overspent by $150.9 million. That’s a 24.2% blowout in operating costs. The total spend reached $773.3 million — and a big chunk of that was on administration, not on the things that matter most to residents.

Key performance indicators haven’t been met in core areas such as water quality, public health, reliable transport, and safety. The basics aren’t being delivered, yet the costs keep rising. That’s unacceptable. Bloxham says it’s time to focus spending where it counts — on clean water, on public health, on functioning transport systems, and on keeping the city safe.

For too long, Wellingtonians have only had one real way to hold power to account — elections. But how can people make informed choices when media bias restricts what they see and hear? That’s why Bloxham is taking a stand. He refuses to sit back and allow the political process to be hijacked by outdated media models and self-interested parties.

He believes the future is in agile, open, and transparent leadership. It’s not just about cutting waste — it’s about setting new priorities. It’s about using modern systems and smart solutions to deliver better services with less overhead. The world is changing fast. If Wellington’s leaders and media can’t keep up, they will be left behind.

Disruption is not always comfortable, but it is sometimes necessary. That’s what Bloxham brings. He doesn’t apologise for challenging the status quo. He believes Wellington needs new ideas, new methods, and above all, new honesty in leadership. He says what others are thinking but afraid to say. He isn’t interested in political games. He’s interested in getting things done.

Voters deserve a choice that is not filtered through media bias or old political machines. They deserve a chance to pick someone who is standing for the people, not the system. That’s why Bloxham is in this race.

The story told by mainstream media may try to paint a different picture, but the facts remain. Wellington is not working as it should. The old methods are failing. It’s time for real change.

For media inquiries, Graham Bloxham can be contacted on 0275 526 335.