By Sebastian Mackay
Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s public forum at Auckland University today was cut short when he was hit by a lamington.
The Mayor was answering questions by from students and wharfies, while taking abuse from Socialist Aotearoa until the
lamington intervened.
The activists’ chants consisted of ‘sack Len Brown’, ‘which side are you on Len?’ and ‘free education.’
Placards reading ‘Len is a scab’ and ‘solidarity with local 13’ were placed around the Mayor and the chair.
Activist Penny Bright, of Occupy Auckland, said they were there to ask ‘hard questions’ and she believed ‘the dispute
over the ports is leading to privatisation.’
When asked about the ports the Mayor said ‘the ports of Auckland are their own legislative company.’
In response to being told he wasn’t holding true to his election promises the Mayor responded with ‘I have been getting
told to sell the ports, to send them elsewhere and I haven’t, I won’t sell our assets.’
On two occasions the Mayor entered into talks with Wharfies however these were drowned out or interrupted by the chants
of fellow activists.
The actions of the protestors and their harassment meant that student opportunity to spend time with Brown was shortened
and then abruptly ended after a protestor threw a lamington at the Mayor.
He was hit with another as he stood to leave.
Ends