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Mt Albert by-election candidate Melissa Lee has stepped into another controversy.
She has already under investigation by New Zealand On Air to see if her media company used public funding inappropriately before the last election.
Now she has suggested at a public meeting on Wednesday night that putting a motorway through Mt Albert would be good, because criminals from south Auckland would drive straight through rather than coming into the suburb to commit crimes.
Greens candidate Russel Norman was at the meeting and was upset by the comments, describing them as incredibly unfortunate.
He says the audience jeered and booed, obviously unhappy about them.
Norman says that kind of attitude towards the people of South Auckland is straight prejudice.
Lee told Mike Hosking on Thursday morning she got the information from a police officer.
she toned down her comments and apologised for her comments.
"I didn't say all of South Auckland was doing this. I said the criminals who travel from one city to the next," she says.
"If South Auckland people (find) my comments offensive, I apologise. It wasn't about them. It was about criminals.
"By nature, people are travelling from one town to another. If we actually have a motorway, those people who might possibly be driving through and committing crime in Mt Albert might be diverted off."
Lee said police officers had voiced that view to her, saying motorways helped channel criminals away from suburbs.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce, asked on Thursday morning whether he agreed with Lee, said it sounded like there was a "fair bit of excitement" at the meeting.
"Probably quite a few candidates, by the sound of things, might have said some things in the heat of the meeting."
Lee is already under the spotlight as New Zealand on Air is checking to see whether its funds were used to make an election campaign video for the National Party.
There are allegations Lee's media company received over $1 million in funding before the last election, and some of it was used inappropriately.
New Zealand On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson says the company is sending her call sheets so she can check when staff worked on the project.
If she is not convinced after that, she will send in the auditors.
Wrightson says they will look where the money was spent and whether funded staff worked on the video.
She has had no indication to suggest the allegations are true, but needs to check.
Lee says she has nothing to fear from the inquiry.
She says she had not presented or taken part in production of the programme, though Labour said staff members had said they felt pressured by her.
Labour leader Phil Goff said Lee had used staff to make a political promotion video that was not declared in election expenses.
Lee says the staff members donated their own time, but Goff argues this was not the case.
"That was certainly not the view of the staff members that
worked for her there. Their view quite clearly was equipment and
staffing paid for through NZ on Air was misused to produce the
National Party election video."
Should Melissa Lee re-think her comments? Were they appropriate?
Share your thoughts on her comments on the message board
below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentbruce963 said on 2009-05-14 @ 20:09 NZDT: Report abusive post
Stupid, stupid stupid. She deserves to go no where. I live in South Ak (Clevedon in fact). I work in SthAk , I shop in SthAK and I earn over $250k. But I also have respect for my community and feel safe where I live. Melissa should go get lost ! I don't accept her apology. She belives what she said. Her comments are really low. May she rot on the pile of useless politicians. We should count ourselves lucky that she didn't slip into politics. Bruce963
Hannan said on 2009-05-14 @ 19:19 NZDT: Report abusive post
As interesting as these candidates are, there are other candidates standing in the Mt Albert by election and I would like to hear their position on this too. It is the responsibility of the news media to let all candidates to be heard.
Wikitoria said on 2009-05-14 @ 18:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
As a South Auckland resident, I am shocked, but not surprised at the comments made. Transparency at the highest level. Wonderful! But not for National. Said in the heat of the moment! Huh! The election nerves! Huh! It shows the extent of the thoughts - thought by jafa. It was coming! National has been skating a dance of bliss for a few short months. The Labour party must be dancing with glee, Yee Ha! Thank you Melissa. As for this South Aucklander, I am highly insulted at her comments.
dbroadle said on 2009-05-14 @ 18:21 NZDT: Report abusive post
I was disappointed to see TVNZ coverage of the Melissa Lee story and found it to be both narrow and misleading to the NZ public. If national media claim that this will have a significant and detrimental impact on her career, more than likely it will. The only balanced comment was in the last sentence, relating to inexperience. I would expect broader, less biased coverage from key NZ-wide media.
vilisoni said on 2009-05-14 @ 10:52 NZDT: Report abusive post
What a load of rubbish. who does this lady think she is. not everyone in south auckland are criminals melissa. too me she is fake at the highest level. this goes all the way back to her opening speech in parlimaent where she said that all shopkeepers wouldnt die if gangs or something rather was taken out of soceity. i cant wait to here wat john key has to say> hes got a big mess to clean up