Wayne Brown Actually a Refreshing Change in (Local Government) Politics, NZ Inc - DESPITE The El Typical Media Pile On

Yep, new Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has thus far contravened all the modern, implicitly-accepted customs and mores of 'how to do' politics in the techno-savvy, media-driven political landscape of 21st-century Aotearoa - that much is absolutely beyond dispute.

But upon sober reflection over recent days and weeks - especially since disaster #1 hit Auckland like a sledgehammer - I find myself warming to the man and his somewhat quirky, unconventional style (of no-nonsense talk & doing things). 

Sure, the political pundits and armchair critics all crawled out of their holes and lambasted his 'non-show' upon the fateful night the rains deluged western Auckland and surrounds, but hearing him give his defence/'two cents worth' defence upon the following afternoon at the standup media conference alongside new P.M. Chris Hipkins I felt he acquitted himself honourably and well.

Refusing to engage in verbal tit-for-tat with a lynch mob mentality media rapidly encircling him like vultures sensing readymade carrion, Brown simply deferred to the various fire chiefs standing alongside him, who he asserted - and as they themselves afterwards confirmed - had felt it unwise to move any faster until certain things had been ascertained and put into place.

Obviously the mayor soon thereafter - upon more sober reflection - apologized for having thus apparently let people down, and his words and tone were full of authenticity; yet by not reacting and 'jumping' every time the media scrum cried "Jump!" Brown has shown he's made of different stuff to the modern-day political wonks with whom kiwis are sadly all too familiar.

A week or so later - in a rare interview pre-Panel with RNZ National's afternoon talking heads - he also revealed he had genuine empathy for the plight of the poor (as well as the well off) whose respective abodes all too often (throughout God's Own, not only in our biggest city) are too often consigned to inundatable valleys (or perched upon precipitous cliffs, as the case may be).

A quiet, self-effacing, demure and shy manner and demeanour is a welcome response to so many all-too-self-confident politicoes, media minders and other 'expert' wannabes whose only real claim to fame is their unerring ability to reflect the various political and cultural winds happening to blow at any given time.

Afterthought:

But please, Wayne, have mercy upon Citizens Advice, having had to deal with all manner of bureaucracy over the years and decades, I'd have to say that, (alongside Inland Revenue, surprisingly enough), it's the one governmental outfit that earns every dollar it (doesn't in fact) get/s (from the longsuffering ratepayer/taxpayer).