Rich Lister Tenby Powell is running for office in Auckland's local body elections and he wants our votes. He also didn't want me to write this story. In fact, he splurged on a flat white coffee on Thursday in the interests of persuading me to clam up. But I've never been one to be shy away from telling the truth.
So, I'll tell you why I am banned from The Northern Club, the venue at which Dave Fane let rip a tirade of abuse against Jews, homosexuals and people with HIV.
Fane hasn't been issued with a ban. But lo and behold, a letter arrived addressed to Spy this week from the manager of The Northern Club, Nicki de Villiers, stating Rachel Glucina is "not to be permitted to enter the premises of The Northern Club for any reason whatsoever... for the purposes of the Trespass Act 1980."
What's my crime? Not anti-Semitic slander. Not anti-homosexual slurs. I named The Northern Club as the venue of the Radio Roast where it happened. Apparently that's not de rigueur for the elite Auckland social club. Their hoity-toity world is built on privilege and power.
Incidentally, NZ Herald business reporter Anne Gibson named The Northern Club in Wednesday's paper as the venue of a shareholders' meeting for NZX-listed Kermadec Property Fund. She told Spy she's done so 14 times and has never faced the wrath of management.
Powell is a director of The Northern Club Holdings Ltd, the company I understand runs the private lair. He did not want to be linked to this story. Perhaps he saw the hypocrisy in it.
John Key certainly did. The man who grew up in a Christchurch state house and went on to claim the top job in the country, reckons being banned from The Northern Club is a badge of honour. I couldn't agree more.
-Herald On Sunday
SPY: Spy black listed
Tenby Powell. Photo / Herald On Sunday
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