Lie to me.

So in the words of the fictional Dr Gregory House “Everybody Lies”, and yes we all do it but most of us restrict this to social lies, you know the “does my bum look fat in these” type of lies (the answer not the question) or the “I love it just what I wanted” option. We all know that sort of stuff that makes for an ability to operate in a social group without offending everyone. What’s more when we hear these potential lies (sometimes you really do love the gift) we understand the rules and accept the practice.


On the other hand there are lies we do not find so acceptable and these are generally of the self serving kind that have the potential to damage others. The “I didn’t break the window, he did” type of lies. The motivation for these lies is of course obvious, we wish to avoid the consequences of our actions or perhaps even worse persuade others to action for our own benefit. The “buy this perfume and be instantly desirable” type lie.

Now I understand personal motivations for actions that benefit you, we are after all pretty selfish organisms it is the process by which we ensure our survival. But there is another form which I really don’t understand at all and that is when you lie for no obvious personal benefit.

So once upon a time I was on a flight from Dunedin to Auckland which lands at Wellington on the way to put down some passengers and pick up others. The flight was running late (as usual but that is another story) and so the Auckland bound passengers were asked to remain on the plane. After a while an announcement was made telling us that the plane had encountered an “engineering issue” that needed rectified and there would be a delay. Duly the situation was sorted and the Wellington passengers joined the plane, however they reported that the plane was delayed due to “crew change problems”. Now I neither know nor care which one of these options was correct but clearly one group had been lied to and for no good reason, which ever option was the truth was just as useful a reason as the other option. Potentially neither was the truth and there was a third reason but that would have been ok too I suppose. So why did they do it.

My thought on this little incident is that the marketing “spin doctoring” is so out of hand within Air New Zealand that they now find it difficult to tell the truth. They are too worried that they will “look bad”. You see attendance to an engineering issue might make them seem careful and caring. Not having the right staff in the right place potentially makes you look sloppy and careless. Maybe it is that sort of thinking that drives this sort of behaviour.

A current example that is more serious than a mildly interesting anecdote is the continual lies that swirl around the new Stadium here in Dunedin, the recent statements regarding the $5M of “extras” is a prime example, no doubt some of what was said was true but other things beggar belief.

So none of these are actual quotes but for example, internal signage was the responsibility of the naming sponsor but this has failed to come to fruition. Really? Well if it was agreed with them why not sue them for performance rather than revert to the rate payer. How about this as a reason, it wasn’t agreed. I have no knowledge of the agreement but I bet if it was agreed the rate payers would not be paying.

How about, the catering contractor is contributing $3M to kitchen fit out but a further $2.5M is required. Really? Are you trying to tell me it costs $5.5M to fit out a kitchen, that is an awful lot of pots pans and plates etc. Again I have no actual knowledge but this statement doesn’t ring true with me.

And what about, when the stadium was designed large replay screens were not in use in stadiums and are now common place. Now this is definitely wrong as Carisbrook has had one for years or did they never look at Carisbrook before deciding it was a no go option.

You see that is the big problem with “spin doctoring” the truth, eventually we doubt everything corporate’s say be it the truth or otherwise. And what’s in it for the spin doctors, just as with my Air NZ example often the truth would have done just as well and eventually we would believe you and trust you. Isn’t a trusted brand what marketers strive for? Corporate truth telling would be a useful start.