Councillor given a wake up call

Arthur Anae (left) was filmed by Campbell Live. Photo / Supplied by TV3

An Auckland councillor has been slammed for "sleeping on the job" after he was filmed nodding off during a council meeting.

Arthur Anae, representing the Manukau ward, was filmed snoozing during a council meeting at the Auckland Town Hall on Monday.

The footage was later used in a short mock skit on TV3's Campbell Live programme.

Presenter John Campbell, in the studio, crosses "live" to a reporter at the meeting.

The camera cuts to a pre-recorded segment showing Campbell, who describes the meeting as "awful."

Asked to elaborate, he points towards the councillors and says: "Firstly, Arthur Anae keeps falling asleep. Come on, Arthur, you can do it.

"It's just so dispiriting," Campbell says sarcastically.

At the end of the skit and with a punch in the air, he says: "I'm just gonna try and wake Arthur Anae up - as ratepayers we should demand that our councillors stay awake during these meetings."

Mr Anae apparently comes to when Campbell yells out: "Arthur!"

Although the footage was meant to entertain, a former Manukau City councillor has slammed Mr Anae and says his falling asleep is an embarrassment to the Pacific community.

Former Manukau ward councillor Efu Koka said: "Come on councillor Anae, you are expected to act in a manner that is befitting of your position to represent the interests of the community that elected you to office and not just get your ticket clipped for being present."

Mr Koka also said if councillors could not cope with the workload, they should relinquish their position.

Mr Anae yesterday admitted it had been a long morning and it did not help that the room was stuffy, given the air conditioning was not working properly.

"We had a long day, a hot day and that's what happens."

"We started at 7.30 in the morning and we had gone on all day with various meetings. It was very hot and I hate the heat."

Yesterday one councillor admitted it happened all the time.

Howick ward councillor Sharon Stewart said although falling asleep was not acceptable, he was not the only person who dozed off from time to time.

"To be honest I have, over the years, seen a number of councillors fall asleep in meetings ... I could probably name 20 councillors who have had that happen to [them] - I don't think I have seen a mayor fall asleep though."

Mrs Stewart said she felt there needed to be more breaks in between meetings, as some could run from early morning to well into the afternoon.

Councillors Jami-Lee Ross and Cameron Brewer both defended Mr Anae, saying he was merely "resting his eyes".

Mr Brewer said he had known Mr Anae for many years and said he was a hard-working businessman who also worked long hours for his community.

Mr Brewer said: "While he may look asleep, he is very cognisant of his surroundings and makes a great contribution to the debate."