New Zealand councillor joins Zoom meeting from bathroom
Dunedin City Councillor Jo Galer drew attention during a televised council meeting by joining via Zoom from a bathroom where laundry was visible in the background. The meeting was further disrupted by the removal of another councillor for disorderly conduct.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and occasional unprofessionalism associated with remote work in high-stakes government settings.
Dunedin City Councillor Jo Galer washed her dirty laundry in public, literally. Well, she didn’t exactly wash it, but she hung the entire load out during a televised council meeting.It happened on Monday when Galer dialled into a local government reform discussion from Glasgow via Zoom. One look at her camera feed, and the mayor gently suggested she reposition. Not for privacy, but to avoid the background: a bathroom with damp clothes left on the rail to air.When the background steals the spotlightOn Monday morning, as the Dunedin City Council meeting started, Mayor Sophie Barker informed the rest that two councillors would be joining via Zoom. “We can’t see them yet.
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