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Episode 3, the police called me

Time for the third, and probably final instalment, of the current stoush with our local council.

At about 8:20am yesterday morning, as I prepared to head off to meet with members of the local community, ahead of yesterday's council meeting, I got a phone call from the police.

A day earlier I'd gone to the local police station to let them know that they may be getting a call from the council to enforce a trespass order that I was told would be exercised against me.

All the advice I'd been given up until yesterday morning indicated that if police were called, they would advise me to leave and only if I didn't, would they arrest me. The policeman on the phone at 8:20am gave a different story.

He told me that if they had to attend, I would definitely be arrested.

I found this rather strange, since published police policy in respect to such things is to prioritise de-escalation and use arrest as a last resort. Why was this policeman threatening me with certain arrest?

So, I had to make a decision, was I prepared to be arrested to highlight the abuse of power that our mayor was likely to engage in?

Hell yes, you know I was!

Principles are things that must be protected.

So I front up to the council building, cameras in hand.

I was so pleased to see just how many members of the community had rallied to the call and were also there to support their rights. It was quite humbling.

As I expected, a member of council staff approached me, holding a large brown envelope. She warned me that if I start recording, I will be trespassed.

Unlike last time I was confronted on entering a public meeting, this time she was smiling and I could see not all was as it appeared.

I thanked her for her warning and kept on walking.

There was lots of introductions and hand-shaking as I got to meet many of the people who have relied on my regular videos to keep them informed as to the antics of this dysfunctional mayor and his council.

I moved to the very corner of the public gallery and began setting up my cameras. I was told by the lovely smiling staff member "this is your second warning".

Again I thanked her and continued.

The mayor then called my name and told me that I did not have permission to film. He also read out the email he'd sent me in which he claims powers he does not have.

Before I could say anything in response, a councilor called a "point of order" and reminded the mayor that standing orders allow me to film.

At that point the public gallery erupted with boos and jeers aimed at the mayor.

It was a joy to see a community finally find its voice and become prepared to express its outrage at a mayor that has gone rogue.

Things were calmed down and then the mayor announced that he was adjourning the meeting.

Well that really got the crowd angry and they let loose again, inviting Mayor Petley to "grow a set of balls" and slagging him off for denying democracy and wasting their time.

The mayor slunk off out the back door.

What a fantastic scene. People finally gathering the testicular fortitude needed to assert their rights in a democracy. It brought tears to my eyes.

Now the question is... why wasn't I issued with that trespass notice?

My camera was rolling and I'd had two warnings.

Well I believe it was a bluff -- better known as bullying.

For many years, this council has used bullying as a strategy for dealing with ratepayers. They threaten and sometimes they even mis-use their powers to force "difficult" ratepayers into submission.

I'm picking that they got some legal advice which warned them of the huge legal risks associated with trespassing me from a public place on the grounds that the Mayor didn't like being criticised. The potential compensatory losses I could claim would be enormous.

As a result of this, they figured they could bluff me into not recording with their brown envelope and repeated warnings. What they hadn't counted on is that I will not be bullied and that I was prepared to be arrested if necessary to make my point.

So this brings us back to exactly why I got a call from police threatening me with arrest just an hour earlier.

Well I've since been told that Mayor Gary knew I'd been to police. How did he know? What was the conversation between him and police? Were police invited to threaten me perhaps, inviolation of their own clearly stated policies?

Well I think we're going to find out because today I'll be filing an official information act request for all emails, transcripts of conversations and other communications that occurred in the past 30 days between the mayor, the CE, councilors and outside parties that relate to me.

Let's take a good look into what's going on behind the scenes here.

I said this was the final instalment. I lied. LOTS more to come on this.

As a footnote, ZB News and the NZ Herald have covered the events of the day but oh my goodness, they really did a very poor job in presenting the facts. I guess they had an intern on the job or something but the standard of their reporting is atrocious and seems to be all third-hand information.

And, believe it or not, the Mayor still refuses to acknowledge the right to record that is so clearly granted in section 12.4 of the council's standing orders. Word is that he's now instructing his "loyal" councilors to put a motion to rescind that right.

A word to our mayor: never pick a fight with a man who has nothing but time on his hands and the interests of the community at heart, it will not end well for you.

Carpe Diem folks!

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