Summarised by Centrist
A viral video, racking up more than 100,000 views in a day, shows South Waikato District Mayor Gary Petley calling the police on a YouTuber for filming a public council meeting.
In the footage, Bruce Simpson of the Xjet YouTube channel, arrives at the council chambers with a camera, only to be told he cannot film without permission—despite the fact that the council itself records and controls its own footage.
“Why do you need to film Mr Simpson?” asks the mayor.
Arguing that there is no expectation of privacy in a public space, Simpson responds, “Because the stuff you film disappears like magic.”
When he refused to stop filming, council staff calledl the police. Officers arrive but take no action, confirming that no laws had been broken.
He alleges the council deletes inconvenient footage, including a public ejection and critical submissions, which vanished from its archives after being live-streamed.
Simpson argues this is why the council avoids using YouTube, opting instead for a costly private streaming service. He argues this allows them to quietly erase embarrassing content.
He suggests his independent filming threatens their ability to control what the public sees.
Simpson says this lack of transparency is why Gary Petley is New Zealand’s least popular mayor, according to The Taxpayers’ Union.
Image: Mr Thinktank
