Update: RNZ Digging In

Ruth Hill has a history of writing scaremongering pieces on trans issues. RNZ backs it 100%.

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Update: RNZ has supplied Webworm with the following statement:

To attribute to RNZ Chief News Officer Mark Stevens

“Under RNZ’s Rainbow Communities Reporting and Content Guidelines, we use the name and pronouns that people tell us they use. As this story deals with a deceased person, they are not able to communicate their wishes, and RNZ opted to identify them, according to the differing perspectives of the people who knew them.

As is made clear in the article, RNZ named the teen according to the request of the parents who were interviewed for it. The parents believe their child identified as a female at the time of their death.

RNZ has since become aware of reporting about the teen’s messages which paint a different picture about how they identified. We don’t have those messages, so are unable to verify them, despite asking for them. RNZ remains very open to considering any new information and making changes to the story should that information be confirmed.

We understand that there will be differing views on our approach for this article, but we do not accept that we have a history of problematic reporting in this area. RNZ is committed to providing material of great diversity which reflects a wide range of our audiences’ interests, beliefs and perspectives.”

Webworm notes RNZ journalist Ruth Hill was very much offered the messages by Angel (the message board mod in my story) after she published her horrific piece:

Angel is still waiting to hear back.

I’d suggest RNZ talk to their journalist before they state things like “We don’t have those messages, so are unable to verify them, despite asking for them. RNZ remains very open to considering any new information.”

As for, “We do not accept that we have a history of problematic reporting in this area”?

Embarrassing.

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Thanks

I wanted to say thanks for all the outpouring of comments you left under yesterday’s story about Alex — and thanks to all of those who shared the article.

It’s a huge help to my work when you share it. Again, here is the link to Alex’s story — free, unpaywalled, go at it: www.webworm.co/p/lifeanddeathofalex

A few further things I wanted to say.

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Ruth Hill Has A History Of This Stuff

The journalist who wrote that Radio New Zealand (RNZ) story, Ruth Hill, has a history of writing stories about trans issues (especially puberty blockers) — framing them in a way that tends to get people wound up and panicked. This is intentional.

Take this, a headline from 2022:

Subtext: “Oh, no, fuck, it’s growing!”

The body of that article is also designed to make you panic:

“Putting children at risk.”

So of course, the TERFs were on it immediately:

I don’t know what Ruth Hill’s deal is. Never met her. Don’t really want to after this.

Off the top of my head I sort of imagine she’s like the previous iteration of semi-religious/conservative/concerned fear-mongerers who found it horrifying that some kids were gay. “Why can’t kids be normal fuck why are we turning them gay it’s an agenda oh no next people will be marrying their DOGS!”

That kinda shit. Dumb, ignorant shit.

Whatever her deal is, our state broadcaster RNZ is apparently fine with this, as they let Ruth Hill continue on this round. I know this, we know this, because it culminated in that horrific clusterfuck last week.

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My Emails

Before I wrote the Webworm story (starting at 4am on a Friday and finishing Sunday afternoon), I sent Ruth this email:

Crickets. She didn’t reply.

That’s fine, she can do what she wants. I wrote my article on Alex.

And today, I wrote to RNZ:

Other newsrooms also have to answer to this, Stuff and 1News mindlessly republishing Ruth Hill’s piece and saying a giant “fuck you” to Alex.

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What can you do?

A few things.

You can lodge a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority over RNZ’s radio piece that went to air (URL: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018991090/anorexic-teen-died-alone-in-motel-room)

It’s easy enough to do:

https://www.bsa.govt.nz/complaints/the-complaints-process/

As for Ruth Hill’s original story that went up online (and Stuff and 1News too, if you like) go to the Media Council:

https://www.mediacouncil.org.nz/complaints

Here are the story links to include with your complaint. If you only do one, make it RNZ — and maybe they’ll reply to my email.

1. RNZ: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/563855/teenager-starves-to-death-alone-in-emergency-accommodation

2. Stuff: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360720926/teenager-starves-death-alone-emergency-accommodation

3. 1News: https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/06/12/teenager-starves-to-death-alone-in-emergency-accommodation/

I will keep across this.

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Thank You

As I type this I feel incredibly frustrated — there is no way that relatively tiny niche Webworm can counter this trash put out by literally New Zealand’s biggest news outlets across radio, TV and online.

Thanks to anyone signed up here to support my journalism. Now’s the time to do if you’re rich (if you aren’t rich email me and I’ll comp you):

I will leave you with a comment Angel left under yesterday’s story. Angel was a mod on the message board Alex posted on. They’re a gem.

Take care, stay safe.

David.

If you want to get in touch with me, in confidence, I am: davidfarrier@protonmail.com

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From Angel, on Alex:

Alex's favorite color was blue, and his favorite emoji was this: 💙

Every time I see that heart, I tell myself it's For Alex 💙

I'm Angel - Thank you for sharing Alex's story.

Some comments from those who knew Alex:

"Alex wanted his story to be shared, but not like the RNZ article. If anything came from his life, he wanted it to be to educate people on the dangers of eating disorders. Alex's transness only ever came up in the context of his parents not accepting him. He would have had a greater chance to explore his gender identity when he was older. Maybe he would have chosen to medically transition, maybe he would have used the non-binary label again, or maybe he would have detransitioned. Either way, that would have been his choice, and it is a choice that he has been robbed of, because he is not alive anymore. Alex needed love, acceptance and space to figure himself out, and he was denied that...

The original article seems so suggest that 'because social services focused so much on Alex's gender identity, they neglected his eating disorder'. It is deeply ironic then, that all of the conversation now seems to be around Alex's gender identity, and people are neglecting to raise awareness about the eating disorder that killed him."

"Alex was gentle and kind, who just wanted to be seen, heard, and respected by his own parents - those who swore to love him unconditionally upon conception. The very system designed to protect him failed catastrophically, and resulted in the preventable loss of life. Dozens of countries claim to have exceptional healthcare only to offer uncomprehensive care to eating disorder patients, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community. We treat the symptoms, but not the actual cause/root of the pain causing the symptoms. Alex, unfortunately, was no exception...

Alex was transgender, and deserved peace, love, and acceptance for his gender identity, just as all queer kids do. Instead, Alex has now passed on as a direct complication of ignorance and hate. We grieve the loss of Alex, one of our own, and pray that he may find peace in whatever afterlife there may be. Alex deserved so much more than he received from those who swore to love him. Alex will always be remembered for the love he spread, and the kindness he showed. We will keep his memory alive in adherence to his core being, because we saw Alex as the brave, kind, and gentle soul he truly was, not what he was forced to conform to be. Rest in power, Alex."

"I could see how much light, and desire to be alive, to be himself, there was in him. I cannot forgive those who failed to support him and took away his future, and it hurts to see his memory weaponized against those who are the most vulnerable. I just want to see my friend be given respect in death. I want Alex's voice to stay alive."

"Alex was always really kind ... a force that always brought a little bit of solidarity... the good, the dark- it didn't matter... they were a comforting presence...

What I'm trying to say is... they touched those they interacted with, even if indirectly, and I'm still processing that.

I miss them."