Photo: RNZ / Marika KhabaziThe Media Freedom Committee has called Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's exclusion of certain media outlets from his budget speech on Thursday "unacceptable". Stuff reported amongst those allowed in were "business leaders, former politicians and former rugby league coach Sir Graham Lowe". A response from the mayor's office said the announcement was "not a press conference" and contents of the meeting were scheduled to be distributed via social media following the event. "taff and guests were disappointed with the conduct of some media who forced their way into the event and disrupted the mayors speech." Simpson said selling shareholding was not just a short-term fix, and would save the council $100 million a year in debt interest.

Source: Stuff June 01, 2023 05:24 UTC