CABINET MINISTER Chris Bishop, wearing an old Fur Patrol t-shirt, trucked along to the Aotearoa Music Awards last week. He and cabinet colleague Paul Goldsmith were clearly in attendance to demonstrate their government's (non-financial) support for local music. While Bishop was obviously keen to show how much he is 'down with the kids', he rather put his foot in it by putting his foot in his mouth.
Bishop was caught on video making disparaging comments about singer Stan Walker's performance. It featured tino rangatiratanga, or self-determination, flags being waved among the crowd.
A tired and emotional Bishop described the performance as 'a load of crap'. He later compounded his difficulties by declining to apologise for his comments. Indeed, Bishop's hostility to tino rangatiratanga was confirmed when he told RNZ that it might have been wise to keep his opinions to himself. His office also tried to claim that Bishop had been the victim of a smear job.
But Bishop did say he was annoyed by the 'overtly political branding on display'. Apparently, he thinks politics should be kept out of music, especially when the politics on display are in opposition to the Government.
On the night, Bishop earned the ire of respected New Zealand musician and singer Don McGlashan. He told Bishop to 'shut up, you dickhead' which Boozy Bishop cleverly responded with 'I could say the same thing to you'.
Bishop might have been unaware that McGlashan was a member of the post-punk band Blam Blam Blam. In 1981, it released the overtly political song 'There is No Depression in New Zealand'. Given the rotten shape New Zealand is in today, the song's sentiments remain as relevant as ever.
Meantime, Julia Deans of Fur Patrol said in an X comment over the weekend: 'You may have been wearing our t-shirt, Chris, but Fur Patrol do not agree with your rant or the moment you chose to let it fly.'
One could describe Bishops behavior as bogan, but even bogans are capable of apologizing, but not Bishop. The only thing he has an abundance of is ego.
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