The not-at-all racist Auckland University European Students Association will not be at Stall 124 outside the library on March 10 during O Week as previously announced.
In a move that should put to rest once and for all any suggestion they were even slightly racist or had anything to hide, the group disbanded before it had formed rather than explain themselves or stand up for what they know is right. Or probably very wrong.
Their spokesperson, who may or may not have been speaking from his underground bunker, a german shepherd by his side, while a U-boat waited offshore to whisk him to safety, posted that "due to an extremely high number of physical threats and severe (and unfounded) accusations of racism and fascism we see that the costs outweigh the benefits to taking this club any further". I'm trying to care.
Reliable information on the AUESA was always hard to come by, although from the start you could infer a few things from their imagery and slogans. Their Facebook page had a painting called Proclamation of the German Empire, in which centre stage is taken by Prussian pin-up boy and architect of German militarism Otto von Bismarck.
There was also a portrait of Captain James Cook against the New Zealand flag, and one of those Celtic design-cum-sword thingies you'd recognise from tattoos on the torsos of skinheads who sing in bands called Stormbringer's Anvil.