I am from New Zealand, I don’t find this man funny nor do I know anyone that does. Beats me as to why he has a column in the Herald and a TV show. Could be the same reason FOX news still has a huge majority following…

This guy was a bit of a jerk. There are people like this everywhere. If the countrymen of every knucklehead who did something like this had to apologize for every time they did it, we’d never get anything done because we’d all be apologizing 24 hours a day.

New Zealanders are in no way, shape, or form responsible for this. I’m happy that Mr. Hart was big enough to give his apology, and that is the only one needed here. Please, any New Zealanders here, you do not have to apologize on the behalf of your whole country for the misguided actions of Mr. Hart.

Thank you.

About 95% of New Zealanders don’t realise that we do have our own cryptids, and it is closed minded back water supposed humorists like this individual who are only too happy to see it stay that way.
I can only apologise and hang my head in shame that someone from my country would be so idiotic.
I can genuinely assure you there are some of us here in New Zealand they do take cryptozoology extremely seriously and our research means a hell of a lot to us, I have been researching the past 30 years, and unlike in other countries we have a major uphill job as idiots like this make it harder for our research to be taken seriously and for us to let the people know that there is an important part of the heritage and national identity is being kept hidden from them. I feel quite sure this i probably didn’t even know New Zealand had any cryptids.

My sincerest apologies and please do not based us all with the same brush as this fool.

Tony L.

The guy is a jerk.

I think he and his style of humor rank between stupid and jerk, but his letter and it’s description of his column are genuine. It seemed enough that he bothered to write back with an explanation\apology without tongue in cheek.

Yes the column was abusive, and he relishes his put-downs to show himself off (and one detects a hint of that needy Superior Atheist Skeptic chip on his shoulder).

But, please: Bigfoot Conferences are obscure and this one had all of three scheduled speakers, so this isn’t National News. It was like covering the Annual Arctic Penguin Races.

His account wasn’t a News Article, just some gonzo jabbering in a “column”. My daily has part-timers covering “they’re repaving my street today” or whatnot.

He wrote it on the other side of the planet: who’s to guess someone from that conference would ever stumble apon it? Internet or not. I know I miss about 100 countries most days His boldness grew with great distance.

The only crimes cited about his letter is that he was too abusive (granted) and he did-too identify his targets; but only by first name and details known only to the attendees, and again, see the above points. Once caught-out about cutting too deep, he tried to unfocus it again, but whatever, it’s a gonzo pastiche. I didn’t detect any repeat put-on, just “Are you kidding? I’m famously not-serious. I’m sorry if you heard it and I and got under your skin”.

(ok it was a little more than that, seen as he also goofed at the actual conference on your home turf, but only recounted it far away).

Let’s not think we’re So Serious, or be so defensively sensitive due to the subject matter and media treatment, that this sorry excuse of a clipping ranks with the Bigfoot In My Icebox scandals.

Patience: they own the check by default but we’ll score the checkmate. The time is ever-shrinking to the day when the entire face > egg > who’s silly now > scene will do an instant global reversal forever

People: Being a comedian is a bit like taking LSD and trying to put a puzzle together. You have no outside perspective. You’re constantly pushing yourself to the edge and sometimes fall right over. You can only do what you do, even if a lot of people hate it, even if you hate it. If you offend no one, you will probably find yourself stocking groceries 8 hours a day.

There is no ‘objectively’ bad comedian, as one of the other comm enters is trying to convince you.

I’ve never seen the guy, but come on people, use your imagination a little. Can it just be possible that the guy could write those nasty things and then sincerely apologize? Only a comedian has to deal with complexes such as picking on human nature through the guise of a character through the rouse of an article about a Bigfoot conference while skirting the line of shock/amusement.

Loosen up and understand that a jab from a comedian is pretty much from a plastic gag knife. It’s like getting mad at the clown pulling a hanky out of your ear.

The guy just gave in to his comedic greed. He didn’t think he’d be caught, and he didn’t have sympathy for the victims. He wanted to draw a comic strip, not write an article. He thinks Bigfoot is B.S., but now sincerely feel guilty since people are mad…I think.

We have a venue for comedic fantasy here in the USA. It’s called The Onion. New Zealand should look into it. No fruit names though, too obvious.

He just needs a reality check. That’s what happens when the comedian gets away from the live audience.