Penny Bright: Speaking-up against the corrupt corporate coup
Penny Bright, activist, rabble rouser and is often described as radical; it takes under a minute for her to get to the point, “If you want change, sometimes, you got to stick-up to the plate and do things that other people might be too afraid to do. Under my watch as Mayor, I will bring back the public service model and lead from the front,” she says.
This is not the first time she is saying this and it is unlikely to be the last. For a few years, Ms. Bright has relentlessly battled against what she calls the “ the corrupt, crony, corporate control” of the Auckland Council and campaigned for greater transparency in dealings.
Her tactics are persistant and she has been arrested 22 times.
Throughout the interview, she talks animatedly, complete with sound effects. At any public meeting, it is obvious that she does not lose an opportunity to be heard. She is running for the job of being Auckland's future Mayor in a race that is seen to be largely one sided. A recent debate at the Auckland University has Mayor Len Brown well ahead of his rivals.
“What is interesting is the candidates that have put up their hand, its an interesting situation. The vote is going to be split. In my considered opinion, even though Len Brown may be more personable, than John Banks, quite frankly, this is about the Auckland super city is a super city for the one percent. Whose interests are being served in reality?” she asks.
Ms. Bright is scathing in her criticism of “corporate lapdogs and johnny come latelys”. This, being fiercly politically independent is a point in her favour. “As a public watchdog and I'm not aligned to any political party. And I know I have been able to achieve a number of things as an independent public watch dog, whistleblower, because that's what I do. I do the research nobody else is doing, I ask the hard questions that nobody else is asking. ,” says the 59 year old.
She takes her time with her coffee and has plenty to say. If she is as effective as she claims, why be Mayor? Why not continue the good work?
Because this is her “big thing”. She believes she can really help. “I do not believe that a public service should be run as a profit making enterprise. End of story, that's it.”
Ms. Bright stood for elections three years ago. Then too, her focus was the same. With a track record of grass-root activism and armed with a quality assurance background though she has never been to University, she looks doggedly optimistic.
In 2010 she was honoured by a council community board for focusing attention on water privatisation. She draws heavily from her experience as the spokesperson for the water pressure group opposing the commercialisation of Auckland's water supply.
And for all her provocative “in-your-face” attitude, she has never received a death threat. She laughs; and is able to rattle off, sections and sub-sections of legalese at the top of her head. Clearly a result of a lot of practice.
In 2000 she got made redundant and has been campaigning full-time ever since. “I am self funded and I'm lucky enough to have a free hold house.”
She stays at her Kingsland home with her partner, flatmates and three cats.
“And if I wasn’t in that situation, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing. My flatmates pay me to do what I do. It's a bit rare to find that. I choose to do this because who else is doing it? I take full personal responsibility for what I'm doing. I know, a faint heart never won a fair go.”
Her belief is touching, even though it might sound naive to cynics, “You need people who are devoted and dedicated public servants, who are going to act in the public interest and not help look after the interests of the one percent.”
Penny Bright, activist, rabble rouser and is often described as radical; it takes under a minute for her to get to the point, “If you want change, sometimes, you got to stick-up to the plate and do things that other people might be too afraid to do. Under my watch as Mayor, I will bring back the...
Penny Bright, activist, rabble rouser and is often described as radical; it takes under a minute for her to get to the point, “If you want change, sometimes, you got to stick-up to the plate and do things that other people might be too afraid to do. Under my watch as Mayor, I will bring back the public service model and lead from the front,” she says.
This is not the first time she is saying this and it is unlikely to be the last. For a few years, Ms. Bright has relentlessly battled against what she calls the “ the corrupt, crony, corporate control” of the Auckland Council and campaigned for greater transparency in dealings.
Her tactics are persistant and she has been arrested 22 times.
Throughout the interview, she talks animatedly, complete with sound effects. At any public meeting, it is obvious that she does not lose an opportunity to be heard. She is running for the job of being Auckland's future Mayor in a race that is seen to be largely one sided. A recent debate at the Auckland University has Mayor Len Brown well ahead of his rivals.
“What is interesting is the candidates that have put up their hand, its an interesting situation. The vote is going to be split. In my considered opinion, even though Len Brown may be more personable, than John Banks, quite frankly, this is about the Auckland super city is a super city for the one percent. Whose interests are being served in reality?” she asks.
Ms. Bright is scathing in her criticism of “corporate lapdogs and johnny come latelys”. This, being fiercly politically independent is a point in her favour. “As a public watchdog and I'm not aligned to any political party. And I know I have been able to achieve a number of things as an independent public watch dog, whistleblower, because that's what I do. I do the research nobody else is doing, I ask the hard questions that nobody else is asking. ,” says the 59 year old.
She takes her time with her coffee and has plenty to say. If she is as effective as she claims, why be Mayor? Why not continue the good work?
Because this is her “big thing”. She believes she can really help. “I do not believe that a public service should be run as a profit making enterprise. End of story, that's it.”
Ms. Bright stood for elections three years ago. Then too, her focus was the same. With a track record of grass-root activism and armed with a quality assurance background though she has never been to University, she looks doggedly optimistic.
In 2010 she was honoured by a council community board for focusing attention on water privatisation. She draws heavily from her experience as the spokesperson for the water pressure group opposing the commercialisation of Auckland's water supply.
And for all her provocative “in-your-face” attitude, she has never received a death threat. She laughs; and is able to rattle off, sections and sub-sections of legalese at the top of her head. Clearly a result of a lot of practice.
In 2000 she got made redundant and has been campaigning full-time ever since. “I am self funded and I'm lucky enough to have a free hold house.”
She stays at her Kingsland home with her partner, flatmates and three cats.
“And if I wasn’t in that situation, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing. My flatmates pay me to do what I do. It's a bit rare to find that. I choose to do this because who else is doing it? I take full personal responsibility for what I'm doing. I know, a faint heart never won a fair go.”
Her belief is touching, even though it might sound naive to cynics, “You need people who are devoted and dedicated public servants, who are going to act in the public interest and not help look after the interests of the one percent.”
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