Mayor Catman
The Herald reports:
Auckland Mayor John Banks, a candidate for the mayoralty of the proposed Super City, has been uncharacteristically modest about his efforts to rescue a cat in a tree.
It is understood the kitten was part of a stray cat colony in Dove-Myer Robinson Park, Parnell, where Mr Banks is known to feed the animals.
He got a call late on Wednesday night from a constituent about the kitten’s plight and spent about two hours yesterday morning helping to rescue the animal.
But later, Mr Banks said he didn’t want to talk about it.
“I love cats. I am an animal rights activist. Thank you very much for the call. There is nothing more to say.
“I change light bulbs for elderly people, I unblock drains and I rescue cats.
“It is part of being the mayor of a super city. That is all I want to tell you. Have a great day.”
Heh, that is a funny story. John is a renowned pet lover, and I can just imagine him dropping everything to go help rescue the cat.
Mind you, I’ve never worked out how a cat needs rescuing from a tree. If they got up it, I’m pretty sure they can get down if they really want to.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Mind you, I’ve never worked out how a cat needs rescuing from a tree. If they got up it, I’m pretty sure they can get down if they really want to.
And I’ve never figured out why Bill English a man of substantial means thought it was okay to soak the Taxpayer to pay the mortgage on his mansion or why he believes his pitiful paying some of the money back would restore his manna,
There you go life is full of mysteries
[DPF: off topic and 10 demerits. Use general debate]
March 12th, 2010 at 10:08 am
Feeds stray cats in a park………..that’s irresponsible.
Animal rights activist………which animals? those feral cats destroy other wildlife. This is nuts! The strays should be destroyed,not encouraged.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Yeah, that’s funny. But so is the thought of Supemayor climbing to the rescue.
I wondered how smart it is to encourage ferals too. I get annoyed when people feed seagulls in picnic areas.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:14 am
a cat up a tree. Nothing a .45 wouldn’t fix.
Im more of a dog person.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:25 am
This makes no sense on so many levels. (Unless of course it’s just a puff piece)
Why would he feed feral cats in a park? That’s really dumb.
Why did it take him two hours? What was he supposed to be doing, as Mayor, in the morning, when he instead took two hours to ‘rescue’ a feral kitten? Did he cut the tree down?
Where is the kitten now? With the SPCA?
Mainly I’d like to know how a ‘constituent’ manages to get a call through to the Mayor because there is a cat up a tree? Next time I see a animal in a plight I might give him a call myself and see how that goes.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:39 am
To paraphrase the Shawshank Redemption: “Kittens in trees is the study of gravity and time. That’s all it takes, really. Gravity and time.”
March 12th, 2010 at 10:56 am
We were having a stag do for one of my mates and the obligatory strapped to a lamp post in compromising atire had occured. Banks drove past, stopped and had a couple of photos, bit of banter and drove on. Always thought that was pretty awesome as I guess he wouldn’t really want the photo’s to go in the public domain. Anyway quite a fan and def better than our past mayors of Auckland in terms of compentency, a milllion miles better than Fletcher, possibly the worst ever.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Surely the only rescue a cat needs, whether up a tree or otherwise (except on the property of it’s owner) is a bullet moving at high speed.
There is part of the quote that I love and no one has picked up on yet.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Shit if he becomes mayor of the “supercity” he’ll spend all day rescuing cats and rainy days will present a real dilemma, drains or cats.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:38 am
It’s because they can hook their claws in on the way up, but not on the way down.
March 12th, 2010 at 11:43 am
“…uncharacteristically modest…”
Lol
March 12th, 2010 at 11:46 am
MT_Tinman: the bit of the quote where he helps old people to change light bulbs and clear drains, or the bit where he claims to be mayor of a super city (as opposed to of the supercity)?
March 12th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
If John Banks is a man of action, does this mean “Cat man do”?
(sorry about that)
March 12th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Oh Banksy, another media stunt huh? Except this time he’s playing to the tune of Bill Ralston and the other media training he received. See http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3354556/Mayoralty-makeover-for-Banks
“In a three-hour private training session last week, Banks was advised to change his shirts, talk more often about his tough childhood and be “chattier” if he wants to win the super-mayoralty in October.”
“The Sunday Star-Times was not allowed in to Tuesday’s training session, but understands it included advice to be more chatty (Banks has been accused of being “robotic” when he talks); to wear open-necked shirts so he looks less like a banker; and to speak up about his tough childhood. ”
Come on Banks. We know what you’re up to. You’re still an idiot.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
No doubt at this moment ACC are reviewing their levy rates for city mayors. They will be worried about all the copy cat events that will no doubt follow.
iPredict should be running who will be the first mayor to fall out of a tree.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Damn, George! You beat me to it. Well done.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
He must be after the elderly vote for some reason
After all, he did displace a whole block of old people for roading.
Short memory syndrome again
The politicians oldest hope.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
He’s got a new column in the Waitakere News and all of a sudden he’s a closet socialist and a tree hugger if you believe what he writes. Who is this guy?
March 12th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I bet Banksie does a lot more work in the community than the other Mayoral candidates. Thats got to be an indicator he has impeccable morals, something that will be in great need during the race for the supercity troughs from all the displaced piggies.
March 12th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Wikiriwhi: What whole block of people for roading? Are you lying again?
March 14th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
not as far as I know.
Was a far while ago. Last decade. I think his frst term as Mayor
March 14th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Yes expat. He has never seemed to have forgotten his beginnings.
He’s an eye opener at the homeless shelter.
But I feel his ambitions are more political than community based.
that will be proven by his policies if he wins the super city
I think he will.