Melissa Lee turned on at heated Auckland University debate

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Wed, 20 May 2009 12:00a.m.

Melissa Lee addresses students and Auckland University

Melissa Lee addresses students and Auckland University

National's Mt Albert candidate Melissa Lee turned up to Auckland University today to debate the other candidates, but the students gave her a right royal lecture.

Labour's student activists showed they do indeed turn up to their creative writing tutorials when a motion was proposed to label Ms Lee as a racist.

The crowd voted yes, Ms Lee could only grin and bear it.

She was then asked for an explanation about the comments she made about South Auckland last week.

"You are students, do you not watch TV? I have apologised," Ms Lee told the students.

But at times she did well in the debate, accusing Labour of not setting money aside for its $3 billion Waterview tunnel.

Turning defence into attack, she accused Auckland's Student President of being drunk the last time they talked, something that was probably not part of the plan.

Meanwhile Labour's David Shearer talked hospitals and schools, and Act's John Boscowen argued he was the only right-wing candidate worth voting for.

Getting back on the horse today, Ms Lee's campaign may be in tatters, but she continues to fight.

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Comments

14 Oct 2009 11:53p.m.

Bart wrote:

Thanx god, somebody caught her now, otherwise she will be millionaire in a decade. That means Trillionaire in china, so basically she could retire there in a decade!!!.

14 Oct 2009 11:44p.m.

KAY FEDEROFF wrote:

MELISSA LEE DIDN'T THINK THAT SHE WOULD BE CAUGHT, BUT SHE HAD A PRETTY GOOD (EXCUSE) ESCAPE PLAN AND THE SUPPORT OF THE PRIME MINISTER.
BUT THIS ISN'T OVER YET. THE TAX DEPT IS STARTING TO DIG FURTHER AND FURTHER NOW.
TRUST ME, MORE TRUTH WILL COME OUT SOON.
SHAME ON HER FOR PLAYING DOUBLE GAME. PUBLIC AREN'T STUPID.
LET'S SEE HOW FAR SHE CAN RUN !!!

21 May 2009 11:07p.m.

Alex wrote:

"the only news we ever see of students is them creating havoc, protesting or riots and mostly pissed?"

Firstly, there's nothing inherently wrong with protesting - that's healthy in a democracy.

And for the rest of your comment that's the fault of the news. I mean you wouldn't have any idea there were incredibly bright people at university doing amazing things and groundbreaking research. But that's not interesting because it's positive, much better to give reactionaries a stereotypical image of students.

21 May 2009 01:54p.m.

cherie wrote:

No I dont think she was a very poor choice. She was not strong enough to with stand they dirt and muck raking that is all.
Now with this latest news that she has been cleared of that NZ on Air funding I wonder if she would not of made the mistakes that she did.

I also wonder if the previous comment about generalising are not because the only news we ever see of students is them creating havoc, protesting or riots and mostly pissed?

20 May 2009 11:18p.m.

Alex wrote:

Melissa Lee is easily the worst candidate in memory, holy **** I don't know how anyone can defend her. She's just so incredibly bad it's beyond belief. They should've stood a sack of potatoes instead, at least it wouldn't be able to talk. Jesus Christ.

20 May 2009 11:15p.m.

Alex wrote:

"what a disgusting site those students were claiming she was racist"

OH ALL THOSE CRIMINALS WHO COME FROM SOUTH AUCKLAND WHAT I'M NOT RACIST I DIDN'T KNOW BROWN PEOPLE LIVED THERE. It's incredible anyone can think there wasn't racism involved in that comment.

"good on her for calling them the drunks that they are"

She didn't, she accused the student president of being drunk the last time they met which is worse. Do you know he/she was drunk? No? And you just generalised about an entire group of people, well done.

20 May 2009 07:21p.m.

Alien wrote:

what a disgusting site those students were claiming she was racist, good on her for calling them the drunks that they are. And now they owe her one heck of an apology