National list MP Melissa Lee dug herself deeper in a hole today.
She was at Unitec for a political forum over the Mt Albert by-election with ACT candidate John Boscawen, Labour
candidate David Shearer, and Green candidate Russel Norman.
The forum, which was organised by USU Students’ Association and Unitec, was chaired by USU Student President Greg
Powell.
The questions asked by Mr Powell were given to the candidates in advance, and so the answers seemed scripted. Candidates
were asked what they would be doing if they were not in politics, what they believed the big issues for Mt Albert
residents were, and why they were running for the seat.
All candidates spoke about the Waterview Connection and the Super City. Ms Lee talked about law and order, Mr Boscawen
talked about living standards in New Zealand, while Dr Norman spoke about roading and public transport.
However, things got heated when questions were taken from the audience.
In Unison, Unitec’s student media asked Ms Lee about an email they had received with her answers to some questions for
the next issue of In Unison, themed *PLAYAZ.* Ms Lee along with other candidates was asked questions relating to this
hip-hop culture theme.
In response to which accessory she would prefer between a gun, a fur coat, a big diamond ring, or a grill, Ms Lee
answered “I think a big diamond ring would be the most useful accessory during the rest of the by-election to knock some
sense into the media (although a gun is tempting)”
At the forum In Unison asked Ms Lee why she had said she would like to take a gun to the media, when the media was only
reporting on the things she had said.
Ms Lee denied writing the email and said she did not know what the question was about, she later told the magazine the
email was unapproved. She told In Unison she had answered some of the question in the email, but not the specific gun
related one.
She also said she did not agree with the answer given to the magazine, when asked if she would like to attack the media
she said “of course not. I have been the media before, I’ve been in your shoes.”
She blamed an over-enthusiastic volunteer for sending the email.
“I get thousands of emails, I go door knocking and one of my volunteers thought they were doing me a favour by
answering.”
In response to another question about grills, she also answered “All politicians need to know when to keep their mouths
closed. So I have put my grill away for the rest of the campaign.”
ENDS