David Farrar: A disastrous interview

The Post reports:

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has confirmed she did not sell her car to pay the bills before he office clarified that, in fact, she did.

So last week on radio she said she did sell her car to pay her bills. Then on Q+A she said she didn’t. Then after the interview her office put out a statement contradicting what she said on Q+A.

This resulted in something I’ve not seen before. Host Jack Tane having to say at the beginning of the episode “For transparency’s sake there is some misunderstand and confusion in this interview and the Mayor amends some of her answers”

It wasn’t just her car sale to pay the bills she got wrong.

Whanau also told Tame Wellington rates “will start to decrease over time”. In reality, the council’s 10-year plan shows percentage increases are planned for rates for each of the next 10 years. What will decrease if the amount they increase each year.

There is no decrease. Far from it. Rates will be 50% higher in 2028 than earlier this year. Next year is already forecast to be 10.8% and the year after 13.1%.

She also told Tame an October 10 vote to stop the sale of Wellington Airport shares would likely succeed, before later clarifying that it would likely fail.

Confused? You’re not the only one!

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.