Whanganui mayor regrets speaking at Charlie Kirk vigil after backlash

Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe says he regrets speaking at a candlelit vigil for Amercian conservative Charlie Kirk, following an outburst of criticism in the community.

Tripe said he knew little about the assassinated activist’s views when he spoke at Whanganui’s Remembering Charlie Kirk vigil, but wanted to condemn political violence and support free speech.

“I went naively to an event I got invited to. I regret going. Had I realised he was a divisive figure, I wouldn’t have gone.

“My message as mayor was for our community to stand against violence and in support of the right to stand and speak without fear. Charlie Kirk spoke and he was shot for his views and I don’t want to live in a world like that.”

The mayor’s words – described as “jarring” by a former councillor and “foolish, poorly judged” by an outgoing councillor – included comments like “Charlie Kirk shed his blood for us”.

“It’s a struggle to speak right now, to be frank, but I really wanted to be here,” Tripe told the crowd of about 150 at the city’s war memorial on September 21. “It is our call to act on what Charlie Kirk was doing, boldly.”

Organisers called the Sunday night vigil to honour Kirk’s “life and legacy”. It was one of a series of vigils around the country following the public assassination of the commentator, author and media personality. More vigils are planned during October.

The 31-year-old CEO of Turning Point USA was shot in the neck and killed during a live streamed debate at Utah Valley University on September 10. The alleged killer is 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.

Some have hailed Kirk as a martyr to Christian values and free speech, while others described polarising right-wing views on homosexuality, abortion, women and race.

Tripe’s speech drew strong reaction online, with scores of commentators criticising his attendance and participation.

“For the mayor of Whanganui to eulogise such a person is both peculiar and disturbing,” one said.

Māori ward candidate Geoffrey Hipango said Kirk’s views were “reprehensible”.

In a message to Tripe, he wrote: “I find it irreconcilable that as our elected mayor you would endorse memorialising and glorifying an open bigot in a positive light.”

Whanganui graphic designer Rose Miller shared a video of Tripe’s speech. It drew hundreds of comments and was shared 150 times. Miller described Kirk’s ideals and beliefs as divisive.

“I don’t think these US culture wars have a place in Whanganui and I don’t think that kind of rhetoric represents our Christian community.

“I don’t think the vigil was a place for a public figure – the mayor – to be speaking at. I was really shocked. It’s not New Zealand. We need to get back to looking after each other and being a community.”

Tripe is serving his first term in local government and seeking a second term as mayor in the current local body elections.

He told Local Democracy Reporting his comments had been misrepresented and that had taken a toll.

“It’s been a very rough few days,” Tripe said.

“My short speech used symbolism to make my point: violence is unacceptable, and we must be vigilant about anything that makes freedom of speech harder to exercise.

“My focus that night was: condemn violence and defend the right to speak without fear.”

Tripe said he knew “very little” about Kirk before his death and had not listened to or followed him.

“I was shocked, like many people, at how he died. I simply got invited along to speak and I should have done my due diligence – I didn’t. I certainly did not intend to endorse any individual’s views and apologise if that is how my words were interpreted. I did not know his views.

“Those who know me know I care for all in this community and it’s sad some are trying to suggest otherwise. My remarks were simply about the principle of freedom of speech and condemning violence.”

Tripe said his words were being distorted to mislead the public for political advantage.

“That is wrong and sad. It harms honest public debate in Whanganui. Words online do not stay online. They spill into real life. They affect families, including my own, and leave people anxious and fearful.

“We should be very concerned that in this world we can be shot at literally or figuratively for expressing our views, and I don’t want that for Whanganui.”

Other commentators came to Tripe’s defence.

Former Whanganui District councillor James Barron described Tripe’s short address and its location on the steps of the war memorial as jarring and a “bad misstep” but said it did not mean Tripe supported Kirk’s politics.

“This was just a bad call, poor judgement and unfortunately-chosen words spoken off-cuff – not a deliberate or even intentional backing of Kirk’s legacy of sowing division,” Barron said.

Outgoing Whanganui District councillor Jenny Duncan questioned the timing and “brutality” of social media attacks, saying she had served three years under Tripe’s mayoralty.

“When I watch a person closely for three years and see none of the following – racism, anti-climate change, misogyny, anti LGBTQ, pro-gun lobby – then I don’t take a foolish, poorly judged two-minute speech as to who the person is.

“I take the evidence of the past three years of leadership. Zero attempt to influence others’ opinions, respecting diversity, promoting community cohesion and focusing on the present and future wellbeing of ‘all’ of our community.”

Whanganui general ward candidate Azian Zulkifli is understood to have fronted the vigil. She did not respond to requests for comment.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air