Hamilton Council meetings covered by live broadcasts from July
Councillors have voted for live web-casting coverage of their meetings, arguing the technology will promote Hamilton as a digitally progressive city.
From July four webcams inside Hamilton City Council chambers will enable the public to keep a closer eye on its elected officials.
The cameras will cost $10,400 across the first year and will see eight council meetings broadcast live online, as well as on-demand, after councillors voted unanimously in favour of the move.
Councillor Angela O’Leary brought the proposal before council early last year but faced stern opposition from some colleagues.
“Some refused to be on camera. Comments like ‘crap’ and ‘stupid idea’ even. When I asked what they were afraid of they just scoffed at me.”
Councillor O’Leary partly attributed the change in attitude to newly-elected Mayor Julie Hardaker “who’s younger and more clued-up about social media”.
Councillor O’Leary said the mayor had called the live-stream a tool for public to see how councillors “vote, debate and behave”.
This option was preferred to an audio-only broadcast – which would have been $7,100 cheaper across the first year – because it better promotes Hamilton as a digitally progressive city.
Councillor Peter Bos offered these words of caution. “I hope that people don’t use the cameras for political purposes. They may take more notice of the cameras than their job.”
Auckland-based SlipStream Media will provide the coverage through the Ziln internet TV company.
Hamilton City Council is the third to record and broadcast their meetings after Taupo and New Plymouth district councils last year. Tauranga records its meetings, which are available online, as podcasts.
