Arrested

At the Auckland Council in April 2005 the Mayor tried to stop me from filming the public meeting. Neither the Mayor, councillors nor council officers knew that under Standing Orders* any member of the media or public may film or record any part of the public meeting.

Penny Bright was arrested for challenging the Mayor’s authority to stop me filming.

The Mayor demands I stop

filming the public meeting.

Officers support this action.

Mayor suspends the meeting. Councillors leave the room without questioning legality.

Three months later the Mayor apologises on camera for his actions.

Standing Orders are the set of rules that govern all council meetings. If you don’t know your rights, you don’t have any.