31 August 2004

Statement on the Auckland City mayoralty by Bruce Hucker

The reason I stood for the mayoralty was to change the direction of Auckland City. To do that, we needed to get rid of John Banks and the Citizens and Ratepayers Now group who have done so much damage over the past three years.

Clearly the contest now is between John Banks and Dick Hubbard. But my goal remains to obtain a City Vision/Labour majority on the council.

I have spoken to Dick Hubbard and discussed our common views. As a result I am withdrawing my candidacy in favour of Dick Hubbard and encouraging my supporters to give their votes to him.

I challenge Christine Fletcher, if she is truly interested in turning Auckland around, to do the same.

I have offered Dick Hubbard the benefit of my 18 years' experience on the council - as councillor and deputy mayor.

My continuing focus will be as the leader of City Vision/Labour and contesting the Western Bays Ward.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>