Water Pressure Group NetNews

 

Media Release
The Water Pressure Group
7 April 2000
 

Assault and Wilful Damage by Auckland City Councillor

Claimed by Water Pressure Group Members His Resignation Demanded

 

During activities by the Water Pressure Group on Sunday 7 April, the
group's fire engine was used to visit shopping centres around the city,
signing up public support for submissions for council to abolish Metrowater
and end user charges.  As on past occasions, there was also a stop made
outside councillors' residences - on this day, the Mayor Christine
Fletcher's home in Mt Eden, and "City & Ratepayers" Councillor Phil
Raffills' in Hillsborough.

During the later stop - just after 2pm - a short address was made on the
public address system, pointing out that Mr Raffills was a council member
representing citizens of Avondale/Mt Roskill.  It was also stated that this
area has always displayed the strongest opposition to commercialised water
services and Metrowater, and that Mr Councillor Raffills does not represent
the majority view of the people on this issue.

All five occupants remained seated within the fire engine.

After about three minutes, Mr Raffills emerged from his driveway holding a
bottle.  Without attempting discussion, he first struck the driver's window
of the fire engine a strong blow, and then proceeded to the kerbside, where
he smashed a large side cab window with the bottle.

The window shattered into the cab with enough force to scatter glass
throughout the crew compartment and through the window to the driver's cab.
A three year old girl in the front seat was showered in glass, and was
immediately terrified and became hysterical, while the bottle entered the
crew compartment, striking a Water Pressure Group member and causing an
abrasion and bruising to his right elbow, through his leather jacket.

The police were called and eventually three cars and four personnel
attended the incident. Statements were taken from Water Pressure Group
members and a witness, and tonight, the police are considering laying
charges against the city councillor.

A short item on TV3 6pm news covered this incident.

Water Pressure Group media spokespersons Penny Bright and Jim Gladwin said
tonight:
"In all of the group's activites over the past twenty-two months, we have
never experienced such a shocking reaction from any member of the public,
and we certainly did not expect it from a prominent city councillor and
headmaster."

"This is not the behaviour we expect from a civic leader who should be
setting an example, surely. If the boot was on the other foot, we assume
that we would have been arrested immediately.  As it stands, the Water
Pressure Group's long campaign of civil disobedience has been non-violent
and certainly has not involved in any injury to any person."

"The Water Pressure Group is appaled at Mr Raffills' totally inappropriate
conduct, and we expect his immediate resignation from the Auckland City
Council." Jim Gladwin and Penny Bright concluded.

Phil Raffills head down in shame