Photo: Screenshot / @MayorWayneBrown
The mayor of Auckland has taken a swipe at critics in his Christmas message.
In a post to social media, Wayne Brown said he had made the video "against his better judgement".
"Against my better judgement... I sifted through the comment section to see what gifts of feedback you had for me this year.
"From the good and the bad, to the downright bizarre. There's enough opinions on here to build a second Harbour Crossing out of sheer hot air.
"Let's end 2024 with a chuckle and a reminder that democracy isn't always polite, but it's never boring.
"Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
In the video, Brown responded to online trolls, beginning with a tweet from @BitBull82 that read, "You are a complete disappointment."
"Well, you're a bit of a dick, mate," Brown responded back.
A comment on Facebook from Alex Ratszor said, "My rates bill keeps going up, so does my desire to leave Auckland; NZ too."
In which Brown responded, "Well, goodbye, Alex. Hop down to Wellington where your rates have gone up 25 percent."
In another comment on Reddit, james_cdvm posted, "How many days can Wayne Brown go without saying stupid?"
Brown responded: "I think he meant, how many days can I go without listening to somebody stupid, which is you, James."
On a more positive note, a tweet from @DarthVadered read, "I used to dislike you but now i think i like you Mayor Brown."
While another tweet from @Deez_Nuts_MF read, "How the ... are you still mayor you pathetic old wanker?"
And part of a message from Warren Wilson read "...I live in Auckland but manage to pay not a cent to the council in rates and in fact if I want to leave my rubbish dumped around the place as a protest you can't stop me and if I want to tip waste oil in to a drain as a protest you can't stop me..."
"God almighty, I'm not going to read this crap," Brown responded.
Jason Baz Jones commented, "Mayor "Back Door" Brown. Not an ounce of business acumen" - to which Brown responded, "I haven't got much business acumen. I turned down what I was earning to come in as mayor and rescue drongos like you."
A tweet from @Tammy13579Tammy read, "Can you please be mayor of Wellington - even one day a week?"
Brown replied, "I'm sorry, Tammy, if you're in Wellington, your best chance is to leave."
Another tweet from @MSweetaz read, "Do us a favour and just ... right off back to whatever hole you crawled out of."
"Jeez, where do these people come from?" Brown said.
A tweet from @HarryJonesOZ read, "Could demolish the entire North Shore and turn it into a cycle park. Then no bridge or tunnel needed. It's as boring as f&&k anyway so won't be missed. Sure fire election winner."
"Blimming heck, there's, I don't know, some mad people in Auckland," Brown said.
The final message read was a tweet from @Stormingdino, "You're still a wanker. But well done. Credit where credits dude [sic]. Dudes growing on me."
"Well, that's enough of that. I didn't realise there's so many idiots wasting their time sending this stuff in," Brown said.
"But there you go. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year.
"I'm off to have a beer."