Outrage after fountain in Auckland is dyed red as part of Anzac Day protest
Police are investigating a protest incident at a popular fountain which caused the water to run red on Anzac Day.
Deputy Mayor of Auckland Desley Simpson expressed her fury on Friday that Mission Bay's Trevor Moss Davis Memorial Fountain, in the city's inner east, had been damaged.
Photos shared on her Facebook show the memorial covered with red liquid and surrounding water dyed with red paint or dye.
'I respect the right for peaceful protest. What I don't respect or condone is wilful damage of public property,' she said.
'Our wonderful Mission Bay fountain was only cleaned yesterday!
'A police report has been done, we have CCTV in the area and another clean will occur today!'
The protest, which was about Israel's war in Gaza, appeared to coincide with Anzac Day, with a poster stuck to the foundation with a remembrance poppy at the bottom.
Above the poppy was the phrase: 'Never again is now.'
The poster urged the New Zealand government to act to uphold 'international law'.
'How many more children slaughtered in Gaza,' it asked.
'18 months of genocide. Blood on their hands.'
New Zealand news website, Stuff said police received a report at about 5am local time that people were near the fountain while the caller set up for an Anzac service.
The report is being assessed by officers.
Locals appeared to be split on the protest, arguing in the comments on the choice of day to make a statement.
'How totally disrespectful to the men and women we remember today who fought for these morons,' one commenter said.
Another said: 'ANZAC day is not the day to do this.'
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The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
The verdict on Cammy Day: little in this sordid affair surprised me
But that did not mean Cllr Day had no case to answer, that complaints against him were fabricated, that Cllr Day's alleged behaviour fell below the standard expected of a civic figurehead, or that safeguards for complainants do not need to be improved. Like the charges against the late Alex Salmond, it is entirely possible for allegations to have some substance - why else did Mr Salmond admit to being 'no angel' who indulged in 'sleepy cuddles' in his bedroom with a female colleague who was not Mrs Salmond - and for there to be a political conspiracy at the same time? One does not necessarily exclude or indeed excuse the other, especially when a personal weakness becomes a political opportunity. But the debate on the Dunion Report split very much along those lines, with the SNP and Greens in denial that politics had played any part in how the allegations came to light, when each one of them either knew it did or had been living on Bass Rock for the last six months. Worse, any attempt to shed any political light on what happened was portrayed as victim-shaming and extending ordeals. If politics and allegations of leaks of confidential information about the complaints to the Press had anything to do with the absence of Cllr Day's former coalition partner and ex-council leader, the SNP's Adam Nols-McVey, no-one was saying. This is the same Cllr Nols-McVey who failed to inform the Chief Executive, the monitoring officer, or indeed the Standards Commission, when he received a serious complaint about Cllr Day, then his deputy coalition leader, in 2018. And it's the same Cllr Nols-McVey who never missed an opportunity to attack me in council meetings with quite sickening innuendo when I was under investigation - and subsequently cleared - by the Standards Commission for doing nothing more than asking difficult questions. Read more I'm not sure Edinburgh Council's biggest problem is too many Christmas parties Edinburgh Labour U-turns on Cammy Day's council comeback bid | The Herald Cammy Day probe report debated by Edinburgh Council | The Herald No, it was nothing to do with politics when new complaints made through the council's supposedly confidential whistleblowing system, and a subsequent report, then appeared in newspapers at the end of last year. And no, when the SNP amendment said, 'disclosures were met, in some instances, with dismissiveness or minimisation by some councillors, including being labelled as 'gossip' or 'salacious', contributing to a culture of silence and power imbalance,' it was not referring to Cllr Nols-McVey's obvious failure to escalate the 2018 complaint. And when the SNP agreed with the Greens' amendment that 'Elected Members undertaking public duties should be held to higher standards than simple criminality,' it presumably did not apply to what appears to have been little more than a chat between Cllr Nols-McVey and a police officer about the complaint in 2018. It was no surprise that Cllr Day was not there to hear what little remains of his reputation being ripped to shreds, and it's impossible to see how a plan, wisely withdrawn earlier in the week, for the Labour administration to propose Cllr Day as convener of the planning committee can come off. Why anyone thought it was a good idea to try to vote in someone to a promoted post, which comes with a £14,000 a year pay rise, just as they were about to be eviscerated in the next agenda item is beyond me. At least advice was heeded, but the Labour group should be in no doubt that any attempt at the next full council meeting in August to propose Cllr Day for such a key position could end in ignominious failure and possibly the collapse of the administration. Just because his behaviour has not crossed a criminal threshold, that Cllr Day has been readmitted to the Labour Party, or that there was a political motive behind the attempt to destroy him publicly, does not mean all councillors other than the SNP and Greens are willing to give him a clean bill of reputational health. Edinburgh City Chambers (Image: Newsquest) It certainly does not apply to serial Labour rebel Katria Faccenda who in an emotional speech said the affair had 'broken her heart' and made it clear she would not welcome Cllr Day's return, saying she was unable to attend meetings with Cllr Day present because she feared for her safety. However hyperbolic that claim may be, she was not far off the mark with her assertion that the council is in a 'position of ethical crisis,' but this is not news and there are more than a few of us, and not all from the opposition ranks, who have been saying this for years. For evidence, ask the now retired education officers John and Deirdre Travers why it took them 20 years to be compensated for the appalling campaign of abuse and intimidation they suffered for blowing the whistle on institutional corruption at the highest levels. Or the people whose evidence of disgraceful practices was ignored by the 2021 inquiry into the council's whistleblowing culture. He might not quit, but readmitted to the Labour Party or not, it's hard to see how Cllr Day can carry on after the 2027 election. Little in this whole sordid affair surprised me, and if the council is to move on, then so too should some other significant individuals who have been there too long. Councillors can call for as many reports and new procedures as they want, but when fresh new voices defend, ignore or even lie about the actions of those who have come to regard power as an entitlement, absolutely nothing will change.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Scotsman
Cammy Day accused of 'drunken tirade' that left fellow Labour councillor in tears
Former council leader Cammy Day has been accused of subjecting a fellow Labour councillor to a 'drunken tirade' at a Christmas party that left her in tears. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Councillor Katrina Faccenda said she '[does] not welcome' Cllr Day's return to the party's group, as Edinburgh Council agreed steps to address the council's 'culture of hospitality' – including drinking events on city property – and to improve the process of handling complaints against councillors. These were part of the recommendations from an independent report into the city's handling of misconduct allegations against Cllr Day, who attended the meeting remotely. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cammy Day has been cleared by police of inappropriate behaviour | TSPL Cllr Faccenda said: 'I have been subjected to a drunken tirade by Councillor Day that actually forced me to leave a Christmas party in tears.' She also said that issues in the party had led her to sleepless nights, and that she had considered not attending Thursday's full council meeting due to Cllr Day's possible presence. Cllr Day resigned as council leader in December last year over allegations that he had sent unwanted inappropriate messages to two Ukrainian refugees. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was also administratively suspended by the Labour Party, pending an investigation. The council agreed to hold an investigation into the city's handling of misconduct complaints against him and other councillors and commissioned former Scottish information commissioner Kevin Dunion to carry it out. Mr Dunion's report, debated by councillors on Thursday, found that the city had 'inadequately' handled complaints into Cllr Day's behaviour. It further suggested that the council's 'culture of hospitality' – including drinking events on city property – needed to be addressed. Councillors have agreed to take action on recommendations made by the Dunion Report, including reforms to the city's whistleblowing system and improving safeguarding in the council. Cllr Day was recently readmitted to the Labour Party and the council's Labour group after a police investigation cleared him of criminal wrongdoing. And an investigation by Labour cleared him to return to the party. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SNP group leader Simita Kumar said the report revealed a 'deeply troubling catalogue of allegations against Councillor Day'. 'The report references several instances and a number of individuals over a significant period of time,' she said. 'I am appalled to read the complainant's disclosures were dismissed as gossip. 'While councillor Day's actions may not have crossed a criminal threshold, his conduct is not compatible with the standards expected of us.' And she said the decision to readmit Cllr Day to the Labour Party was 'rushed and reckless', adding: 'This is a Labour group that have abandoned their moral compass.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Earlier in the meeting, council leader Jane Meagher strongly affirmed that she welcomed the findings of the Dunion Report, which investigated the handling of reports against Cllr Day. SNP group leader Simita Kumar asked Cllr Meagher if she'd seen the full contents of the report. Cllr Meagher replied: 'As you know, as council leader, I take all complaints seriously. The party investigates all complaints in line with their rules and procedures. 'These investigations are done by specially trained staff in the party's governance and legal units. Quite rightly, I am not privy to any details of the Labour Party's deliberations. 'I do know that, after an investigation by the Labour Party, Cllr Day's administrative suspension has been lifted, and no conditions were attached. I look forward to working with Cammy again.'
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Report on former council leader Cammy Day approved
Former council leader Cammy Day has been accused of subjecting a fellow Labour councillor to a 'drunken tirade' at a Christmas party that left her in tears. Councillor Katrina Faccenda spoke out to say that she '[does] not welcome' Cllr Day's return into the party's group as Edinburgh Council agreed steps to address the council's 'culture of hospitality' – including drinking events on city property – and to improve the process of handling complaints against councillors. They were part of the recommendations from an independent report into the city's handling of misconduct allegations against Cllr Day. Directly addressed Councillor Day – who attended the meeting remotely – Cllr Faccenda said: 'I have been subjected to a drunken tirade by Councillor Day that actually forced me to leave a Christmas party in tears.' She also said that issues in the party had led her to sleepless nights, and that she had considered not attending Thursday's full council meeting due to Day's possible presence. Cllr Day resigned as council leader in December last year over allegations that he had sent unwanted inappropriate images to, and harassed, two Ukrainian refugees. He was administratively suspended by the Labour Party soon after, pending an investigation. The council agreed to hold an investigation into the city's handling of misconduct complaints against him and other councillors. It was debated by councillors on Thursday, and found that the city had 'inadequately' handled complaints into his behaviour. It further suggested that the council's 'culture of hospitality' – including drinking events on city property – needed to be addressed. Councillors have agreed to take action on recommendations made by the Dunion Report, including reforms to the city's whistleblowing system and improving safeguarding in the council. They also noted issues with the city's process for staff to complain against councillors, which can see complainants cross-examined in a Standards Committee meeting by the councillor they are making accusations against. Further, they agreed to request that dedicated safeguarding staff are placed in the City Chambers, to support complaints made by staff there. Cllr Day was recently readmitted to the Labour Party and the council's Labour group after a police investigation cleared him of criminal wrongdoing. And an investigation by Labour cleared him to be returned to the party, with recent press reports suggesting he may be appointed the convener of a council committee. SNP Cllr Simita Kumar said the report revealed a 'deeply troubling catalogue of allegations against Councillor Day'. 'The report references several instances and a number of individuals over a significant period of time,' she said. 'I am appalled to read the complainant's disclosures were dismissed as gossip. 'While councillor Day's actions may not have crossed a criminal threshold, his conduct is not compatible with the standards expected of us.' And she said the decision to readmit Cllr day to the Labour Party was 'rushed and reckless', adding: 'This is a Labour group that have abandoned their moral compass.' Earlier in the meeting, council leader Jane Meagher strongly affirmed that she welcomed the findings of the Dunion Report, which investigated the handling of reports against Cllr Day. SNP group leader Simita Kumar asked Cllr Meagher if she'd seen the full contents of the report. Cllr Meagher replied: 'As you know, as council leader, I take all complaints seriously. The party investigates all complaints in line with their rules and procedures. 'These investigations are done by specially trained staff in the party's governance and legal units. 'Quite rightly, I am not privy to any details of the Labour Party's deliberations. 'I do know that, after an investigation by the Labour Party, Cllr Day's administrative suspension has been lifted, and no conditions were attached. 'I look forward to working with Cammy again.' Cllr Kumar also asked: 'Cllr Day has been readmitted to the Labour group. Can the council leader tell us what steps she has taken to assure herself that Cllr Day is fit to sit as an elected representative?' Cllr Meagher replied: 'In response, I would like to draw back a little, and remind ourselves about the purpose of the Dunion Report. 'The purpose was not to reinvestigate any allegations, in this case against Cllr Day, but indeed about any elected member. 'It seems to me, in terms of double jeopardy, that it is morally, ethically, and possibly legally wrong to try somebody twice. 'In terms of the Dunion report, and my own commitment to supporting and working through, and enacting the recommendations in the report, then that will be my aim, rather than looking at what has already been dealt with by the police, by the Standards Commission, and the Labour Party itself. 'In terms of the Labour Party, it fully investigated any complaints about Cllr Day, he has been readmitted to the Labour Party without any conditions, therefore he is a councillor member of the Labour party, and therefore of the Labour group. Thank you.' Cllr Faccenda closed her speech by saying she would not back away from the Labour Party, and said she 'looked forward to hearing from [Cllr Day's] lawyers'. Earlier in the meeting, independent councillor and former Labour member Ross McKenzie challenged the party's whip, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, over a Facebook post in support of Cllr Day. Fighting for time with the Lord Provost, Cllr McKenzie asked Cllr Jenkinson about a post he made after the publication of the Dunion Report, which referred to the investigations into Cllr Day as a 'political hatchet job'. Cllr Jenkinson did not look at Cllr McKenzie as he was challenged, instead staring directly ahead. Conservative councillor Phil Doggart said senior officers had 'failed in their duty' in handling complaints made against Cllr Day. He continued to address councillors: 'All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. We [councillors] are responsible for the conduct of this organisation.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
