Brian Rudman: Funny, all right, that apolitical Mr Brewer

Would the real Cameron Brewer please stand up. Is the genuine item the one who, as general manager of the Newmarket Business Association, launched yesterday's joint meeting of Epsom electorate candidates with a press release declaring that "as an apolitical organisation we think it's important that our members have good access to all political thought on offer".

Or is the true Cameron Brewer the one who two weeks ago emailed Green candidate Keith Locke barring him from the meeting on the grounds that "the prospect of a Labour-Green coalition is too alarming for our members to contemplate let alone have the Newmarket Business Association encourage".

His members were responsible and productive New Zealanders and "they don't want liberalisation of drugs, and we don't want you in Newmarket peddling such dangerous arguments".

The Greens were "a modern-day communist party", he said, and his association could not afford to be seen promoting or colluding with them.

So much for access "to all political thought on offer".

It was only after Mr Locke "squealed" - Mr Brewer's phrase - that a late invite was issued. Mr Brewer claimed his comments were "a bit of light-hearted political sparring".

Of course this right-wing gadfly, a former adviser to Jenny Shipley, John Banks and Rodney Hide, is not new to his "humour" being misunderstood.

In 2003, as spin-doctor to Mayor John Banks, he had to be "counselled" by the Auckland City chief executive after telling a local paper that councillor Bruce Hucker "ingratiates himself to the mayor privately but bags him publicly".

After the official caning, a still- cocky Mr Brewer said, "I do struggle that I can't express a personal opinion in my own time ... I'm surprised I am allowed to vote."

A year later he had to be "counselled" yet again after quizzing mayoral candidate Dick Hubbard at an election meeting during his (Mr Brewer's) "lunch break". Unfortunately for him, Mr Hubbard beat his boss Banks and the lunch break became permanent. Which is how he now finds himself in Newmarket being apolitical.

I suspect it's past time for the annual "counselling" session.

Now for some good news. The cavalry has finally turned up to rescue the Auckland Philharmonia, at least for the time being. Creative New Zealand has come up with an extra $600,000 top-up funding for this year, part of the $2.6 million additional funding for "key performing arts organisations" announced by Arts Minister Helen Clark in May.

In addition, the ASB Charitable Trust has come up with $540,000 in recognition of the Auckland Philharmonia's significance "as an important regional asset whose need is particularly great this year".

This is a lifesaver, particularly given the pathetic response from local councils - Auckland City excepted - to the orchestra's urgent pleas for help earlier in the year.

Of the big four, Auckland City acknowledged the crisis by upping its annual grant of $300,000 by $200,000. But Waitakere City shelled out a token $20,000 and North Shore a miserly $30,000. As for Manukau City, which normally gives $30,000, it is still meandering through its processes, with meetings on September 20, then October 11.

The Auckland Regional Council has been conspicuously absent, despite cultural activity being one of its statutory obligations.

Auckland's mayors, back in March, supported the idea of funding the orchestra through a regional per capita levy in the same way as Auckland Museum and the Museum of Transport and Technology acquire much of their money.

In the case of the Philharmonia, the sums aren't huge. Of this year's proposed $7 million budget, $4.26 million is to come from ticket sales and $1.6 million from Creative New Zealand. Another $1.6 million was to come from local government. It's the local government contribution that failed to materialise, with only Auckland City putting its money where its mouth is.

The emergency funding from the ASB trust and Creative New Zealand has provided a temporary breathing space for the band.

Now it's time for the mayors to work with the orchestra and draw up the local legislation required, give it their unanimous support, and get it into Parliament quick.