Another week and another vast array of candidates for the award.
First up whoever is responsible for the decision of the Ministerial Advisory Group to investigate establishing a Public Media Funding Commission to stop taking minutes so that the OIA could not be used. Clare Curren needs to outline her very clear expectations that minutes should be kept. The perception that our side is prepared to play the same games that the other side played should be avoided at all costs.
Then there was perennial finalist Simon Bridges for refusing to apologise for calling baby Neve’s parents Pinko and for generally behaving like a complete doofus on Radio Hauraki. Note to Simon. It is bad enough that you said a number of obnoxious things. But to be obnoxious and not in the slightest bit funny takes special skill. And sometimes saying sorry can be the best thing to do.
David Seymour made another strong showing for his dancing with the stars antics. This picture sums up his campaign perfectly.
As does this one.
Thankfully the nation has been spared further exposure to his dancing antics as he has been voted off the show.
There was Barry Soper who was sucked in by National’s doctoring of a Jacinda Ardern interview and misrepresenting her comments and reported on it. Interestingly he then posted a further article on industrial relations a day later and made no mention of the Ardern quote that had been taken out of context.
Overseas there was Milo Yiannopoulos who after five journalists had been gunned down insisted that he “wasn’t being serious” when he said to two reporters that he “can’t wait for the vigilante squads to start gunning journalists.” This is a perfect justification for people to never take him seriously ever again.
But there was one outstanding example this week whose stupidity brings back memories of Melissa Lee and her fears that the then proposed motorway through the Mount Albert electorate would allow criminals from South Auckland to travel quicker to Mount Albert to burgle local’s homes.
This was Orakei C&R Local Board member Troy Churton who with a clear racist classist dogwhistle has asked for feedback on there being too many police helicopter flights over Remuera on their way to South Auckland. From Anna Leask at the Herald:
An Auckland local board member has come under fire after suggestions the police Eagle helicopter was a “nuisance” flying over the Remuera area too often at night on its way to attend jobs in South Auckland.
He is calling for police to review the criteria for the chopper to fly at night, saying they should only be attending “higher level” incidents so his and other residents’ peace and sleep is interrupted less by the chopper going to incidents south of the affluent suburb.
But police say no way, the chopper will stay – and those who don’t like it should think about what would happen if they needed the “vital” service.
On Wednesday night a post appeared on the Remuera Residents Association Facebook page about “nuisance” night flights.
The post called on locals to report their experiences to Ōrākei local board member Troy Churton and provided his Auckland Council email address.
One of the “primary areas of concern” raised in the post was “proliferation of helicopter nuisance mostly from police between 9pm-6am flying over Remuera to get to the 75 per cent of their attendances that are South Auckland located”.
Perhaps we should strike a deal with Churton. He persuades Remuera to not rely on the rest of the city for water, motorways, hospitals, sewerage treatment, beaches …
And he should calibrate his views. Some of the biggest most dangerous criminals wear suits. And there are many of them living in Remuera.
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