Stirring the political pot

27/7/2009

When Chris Keogh (1996-2000) launched a Facebook page suggesting the Dunedin City Council has ‘‘lost the plot’’ little did he know the site would become an instant hit. Chris launched the group on July 17 and within a week its membership had increased to more than 1,600 people.

Growing like Topsy - Chris Keogh's Facebook group

Most members were from Dunedin, but others were former residents logging in from around New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and — in one case — while travelling through Greece.

The group’s page featured a lively, and occasionally ludicrous, exchange of more than 130 messages, debating the merits of council rates, city parking and, naturally, the contentious Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Chris started the group ‘‘more or less out of frustration’’ at recent council decisions, including changes to city parking, and had been staggered by its popularity.
‘‘It’s a little bit shocking — I didn’t expect it. I thought there would be a couple of hundred people. It’s grown so fast and it hasn’t even been up a week.’’
Despite the group’s name, Chris said he was not targeting individual councillors, had deleted some offensive messages and was ‘‘not anti-stadium either’’. He believed some — but not all — councillors deserved to be voted out, but said the main point of the Facebook group was to promote greater political dialogue and participation in next year’s local body elections.

He planned to add electoral information such as how, where and when to vote, closer to the poll.

Chris has also recorded a protest song describing his views on the council, a video of which has been posted on YouTube. Many messages on the Facebook group page were serious, and occasionally heated.

He stressed he preferred ‘‘civil and constructive debate’’, and believed most of the group’s messages were acceptable. He also said he had no plans to use the group as a platform for next year’s election.

‘‘I’m not a politician — I’m a musician.’’