'Ritual mumblings, mumbo jumbo, and insulting tokenism'

The emails to and from those on the regional council after a karakia walkout

When Kevin Malcolm walked out of a council meeting, it led to a flurry of headlines and then emails which revealed some of the racist underbelly of this country.

You know the story. I first reported it here, which includes these quotes from Cr Kevin Malcolm, of the Otago Regional Council:

“It was just a tick box exercise to try and get favour, it was just so wrong.

“So that is why I did why I did ... no-one was listening anyway.”

After the story blew-up I filed the following LGOIMA request with the Otago Regional Council:

“I'm requesting the release of all council emails relating to the walking out of Cr Kevin

Malcolm at the start of a karakia at a council meeting on Wednesday.

In addition, can I widen the dates of the request from February 14 until March 10, key

words will be karakia.”

That request was later narrowed to just councillors, which helped expediate the release of the documents.

They arrived via email late on Thursday afternoon, a veritable treasure trove of robust debate and racist tropes.