Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: And this week we look at ... Auckland!

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  • Tristan,

    Many people have commented that Mayor Parker has done a great job and you are correct years in front of a camera don't hurt.

    I do have to wonder how hard the job of looking like the mayor is that diffcult. You need to look calm and collected when the cameras role. I would have though looking reassuring would have been a basic part of the job.

    Although he does sound so much better than John Key who sounds like a 13 year old kid with a breaking voice.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 221 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I do have to wonder how hard the job of looking like the mayor is that diffcult. You need to look calm and collected when the cameras role. I would have though looking reassuring would have been a basic part of the job.

    And yet, both Banks and Brown have been performing pretty badly on camera -- even given that they're sloshing around with too many canned lines from their media people.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Efeso Collins

    Yay.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    even if Leighton Smith made his preference clear yesterday morning (I'll let you guess) -- right after he compared Parker to Churchill and John F. Kennedy.

    Newstalk ZB = Fox News Wannabees. Leighton is such a simple man

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Incidentally, fundie pressure group Family First has ranked the Akld Supercity candidates. Can't say I'm too impressed with the neanderthal attitudes expressed about street sex work and brothels, given that both are legal under the Prostitution Law Reform Act 2003. As for public nudity, ho hum, wowserville.

    If I were an Auck, I would have some major concerns about Andrew Williams and Colin Craig...

    http://www.valueyourvote.org.nz

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I hear Brian Edwards has become a born-again Banks supporter after the latter's recent heart-on-his-sleeve events.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Digressing briefly across the ditch...bluidyhell. Does anyone believe that this Bob Katter bloke isn't an utter tosser outside his native Far Right -oops, Far North- Queensland?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Katter

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    On the basis of doing the opposite of the religious right, I'd be voting for Prast.

    Also, the Wellington election seems to be proceeding in an atmosphere of total media blackout. I know very little about the candidates.
    Bryan Pepperell is campaigning on "living within our means" which seems eminently sensible, but I don't know if he's a wowser or not.
    Iona Pannett helped wreck Manners Mall, so I don't feel inclined to enthusiastically support her.
    Jack Yan had said little about anything apart from wanting to spend our money on free WiFi so he isn't embarrassed when his geek mates visit

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I hear Brian Edwards has become a born-again Banks supporter after the latter's recent heart-on-his-sleeve events.

    And yet, Banks' performance in a setting which might actually have something to do with the mayoral job -- the World TV debate -- was, I have been told, that of a "thin-skinned and aggressive man."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    ...right after he compared Parker to Churchill...

    I presume Smith also conveniently 'forgot" to tell listeners that Churchill was dumped as PM by the British electorate in the first post WWII election ?

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I hear Brian Edwards has become a born-again Banks supporter after the latter's recent heart-on-his-sleeve events.

    Yes-ish, here: http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2010/09/john-banks-a-personal-reassessment/

    I'm not sure if one good human act suddenly makes him not a twit the other 364 days of the year.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I hear Brian Edwards has become a born-again Banks supporter after the latter's recent heart-on-his-sleeve events.

    So, it's working! ;)

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    It's the people around JB I worry about, and I don't even live in Auckland.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Is there any critical analysis of Bankses entourage available anywhere, H?

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Many seem to be members of the already rich and powerful elite, and we don't need to give them more wealth or power.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • MikeE,

    I tend to vote for whoever is ranked worst by family first. Has served me pretty well so far.

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    If I were an Auck, I would have some major concerns about Andrew Williams and Colin Craig...

    http://www.valueyourvote.org.nz

    Craig Y

    Good grief. Those questions are an illustration of quite how weird Family First is.

    Their sole definition of an acceptable view of "afford housing" is "get rid of zoning restrictions".

    Except when it comes to brothels, apparently.

    Williams is a loon. His answer to their bizarre demand for a bylaw to ban any use of council buildings for "R-rated events" (which they define as "Facilities for family events") is this:

    Any R-rated events should not take place in publicly owned buildings owned/operated/controlled by the Council. The same as smoking is not permitted in public buildings.

    Fuck off you fascists. You're not even funny.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • noizyboy,

    Also, the Wellington election seems to be proceeding in an atmosphere of total media blackout. I know very little about the candidates.

    So the blogosphere steps up! We've been quizzing the candidates over at Wellingtonista...

    * Bryan Pepperell
    * Jack Yan
    * Kerry Prendergast
    * Al Mansell
    * Celia Wade-Brown

    wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 171 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I hear Brian Edwards has become a born-again Banks supporter after the latter's recent heart-on-his-sleeve events.

    Hillary: It's generally good form to link to people when you're slagging them off, and I don't actually think you're being fair to Edwards there or accurately reflecting what he said.

    And you know something, I don't like Helen Clark politically but I've no reason to doubt mututal acquaintances who say that she's actually a really warm, funny woman who doesn't come across in public that well.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Heh. Well, I've always said FF's Bob McCoskrie was the Patricia Bartlett of the early twenty first century and are only the Society for Promotion of Community Standards with better haircuts, without cardigans and no hornrims. Hardly surprising their agenda almost completely ignores real family needs, is it?

    The mooted public nudity ban is probably related to SPCS' vendetta against Kapiti Coast nude beaches and Steve Crowe and the Erotica Expo parade, as well as covertly designed against any Pride parades with racy content.


    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Why do I suspect FF is going to similarly canvass Auckland City Council members over this agenda of theirs?

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Oops. Celia, not Iona.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Craig, going from "that dreadful man" to "Certainly the person I have got to know in the past fortnight is a very fine man indeed." is quite a shift for Edwards.

    Helen Clark has never even remotely come across as the vile person that Banks has in the past. However, I do concede that Banks appears to have mellowed since his first term as mayor.

    Those Family First types are bloody dictatorial, aren't they ? I had no idea Williams was such an authoritarian, thankfully he has no hope of becoming mayor.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • st ephen,

    ...Parker's ease in the media...

    That's putting it mildly! I guess all provincial mayors like the opportunity to front national media, but Bob does seem to be particularly relishing his moment. Perhaps his retirement from TVNZ wasn't exactly voluntary? You get the impression he feels that now he has been reinstated to his rightful place in our nation's living rooms, the earth's balance will be restored...

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Any R-rated events should not take place in publicly owned buildings owned/operated/controlled by the Council.

    So, taking that at face value I assume The Edge would be required to cancel their liquor licences, break the lease of Stark's and tell the New Zealand International Film Festival they've just lost their key venue in Auckland?

    Hush, kiddies. Can you hear the sound of a hundred desks splintering under the impact of a thousand Liverpool kisses?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

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