Joyce complains to NBR about critical piece by now-axed columnist

Monday, 5 March 2018

Steven Joyce said the article was defamatory.

National MP Steven Joyce has lodged a formal complaint with the National Business Review (NBR) over a critical column by PR lobbyist Matthew Hooton.

Social media has been buzzing with rumours about long-standing columnist Hooton's sudden dismissal from the publication.

Matthew Hooton's long-standing relationship with NBR has come to an end.

Hooton's firm, Exceltium, provided advice to the Act Party.

Joyce, the former Minister for Economic Development confirmed on Monday that he had sent a letter to the publication about the column, published on Friday.

'I can confirm I have made a formal complaint to the National Business Review regarding an article they published last Friday which is highly defamatory and includes a significant number of factual inaccuracies. I have nothing further to add at this time.'

Hooton declined to comment.

It is understood the dispute centres on how many votes Joyce received in the leadership poll for the National leadership.

NBR publisher Todd Scott posted on Twitter that he had made the decision to end the relationship with Hooton before the complaint was lodged. It was reported that he was axed as part of a move away from lobbyists as columnists.

'I acted decisively, my seniors will confirm that I made my call ahead of any legal action from Mr Joyce. I can't say that I personally agree with Matthew, but I will definitely be standing by him and defending his right to voice his insightful opinion,' he said.

I acted decisively, my seniors will confirm that I made my call ahead of any legal action from Mr Joyce. I can’t say that I personally agree with Matthew, but I will definitely be standing by him and defending his right to voice his insightful opinion.

— Todd Scott (@ToddScottNBR) March 5, 2018

He did not directly announced Hooton's departure but also tweeted 'Update to newsroom: Member Subscribers trust & respect the integrity of @TheNBR Its [sic] you they trust to cut through the PR crap, misinformation and out and out lies in search of the truth. let's not afford that responsibility or privilege to lobbyists with paid commercial agendas.'

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