Day of Democracy: Rogue YouTuber ends meeting early

Thursday, 27 February 2025

Long-time South Waikato District Council critic and ‘citizen journalist’ Bruce Simpson’s refusal to stop recording led to Wednesday’s council meeting being adjourned.

A meeting of the South Waikato District Council turned into little more than a farce after a local YouTuber and “citizen journalist” refused to turn off his camera, leading to the meeting being adjourned.

What was to be the first full council meeting of the year, with important decisions to be made on Waikato Water Done Well legislation, and rates rebates for Kinleith MIll workers destined to lose their jobs, almost didn’t make it past the opening karakia.

A decent crowd of around 30 people in the public gallery then witnessed a clash of wills between long-time council critic, YouTuber, and “citizen journalist” Bruce Simpson, and first-term mayor Gary Petley.

Colourful Tokoroa local ‘Cactus’ (standing, on left) was one of around 30 members of the public at a South Waikato District Council meeting on Wednesday that finished before it started.

Before opening the meeting, Petley asked Simpson to stop filming as he had not asked permission of the meeting’s chairperson (Petley) to do so.

Petley said the meeting was being live-streamed and Simpson had no need to record it himself, and that other people in the chamber had not consented to be filmed.

Councillor Bill Machen voiced his opposition to the recording, but Simpson said he would not stop and would remove any footage of those not willing to be filmed.

Simpson said the council’s live stream was notoriously unreliable and he was there to record proceedings for his YouTube channel, and “any other concerned citizens”.

South Waikato mayor Gary Petley adjourned Wednesday’s council meeting after local YouTuber Bruce Simpson refused to stop filming.

Simpson argued he was filming in a public place and was well within his rights.

Petley said he did not want the meeting to turn into a circus, abruptly adjourned the meeting and left the room, leaving those present wondering what was happening.

“What are they trying to hide?,” Simpson inquired.

Councillors looked around the room in confusion with one telling the Waikato Times they had no idea what was going on.

Petley took 15 minutes to compose himself before returning to announce the meeting would be adjourned after the public forum to allow those who had come along to present their views to do so.

The South Waikato District Council will have to meet again and resume its first council meeting of the year at a later date.

Simpson continued to film, and while the council had some security presence outside the council chamber, they did not move to forcibly remove him.

Tokoroa has its fair share of colourful characters, one of those being a well-know local man who goes by the name ‘Cactus’.

Cactus told the gallery he had a lot of love to give, had been blessed by the Almighty, gave compliments to some councillors, and proceeded to share his thoughts on bureaucrats, most of which can’t be repeated here due to translation issues (being largely incomprehensible).

Even though most of his address was semi-coherent babble, he may have been the most sane person in the room when he asked the public gallery to turn their backs on the council as he finished his speech and triumphantly left the building in a large feathered hat.

In a statement made after the meeting by council officials, the council’s position on video recording of meetings was clarified.

“Unfortunately, this morning’s council meeting was adjourned following non-compliance by a member of the public gallery who had not sought permission from the chair to record the meeting.”

Officials said recordings were only permitted when - a meeting of the council or a subcommittee is in progress; no order excluding the public has been made; permission has been sought and obtained from the chair of the meeting; and those present have been made aware of the filming.

“We will advise our community of the new date as soon as we have that arranged.”