Rest in Peace Penny Bright – You never stopped kicking against the Pricks

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‘Hard-boiled’ Auckland activist Penny Bright has died in hospital this evening
Penny Bright, the Auckland activist who nearly lost her house after refusing to pay rates for 11 years and whose motto was “open the books”, died on Thursday night. She was 64.

For the past 20 years, the hard-boiled activist and former sheet-metal welder made illegal connections for protesters whose water was cut off, got dragged by security guards from council meetings and harangued mayors, bureaucrats, police and the judiciary. She was arrested more than 40 times.

Bright died in Mercy Hospice on Thursday.

Anyone who has been active in Auckland politics from a grass roots level over the last 3 decades knew and would have be accosted by dear Penny.

Her tenacity, her focus and her unwavering believe that people can hold their political masters accountable inspired as many as it alienated, she never suffered fools and was merciless if she saw you as the enemy.

She was a battler, a fighter and a unique character who we are made lesser with her passing.

All our love from The Daily Blog to her whanau.

23 COMMENTS

  1. Passed away… but perhaps not that far away.
    One of the things I’m becoming ever more interested in is that perhaps death doesn’t last long. The briefest of states. I hope my interest, however, doesn’t speed up my learning experience.
    I have an inkling that the ‘energy’ that is ‘us’ that inhabits our meat, bones and guts is as a result of an ancient, multi-universe, evolutionary process. Tell that to God botherers and they’ll not believe you.
    It’s lovely to come here and see that people care about an iconic, eccentric and brave woman who kept the narcissists on their beautiful little toes.

    Dr Penny Sartori
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2588683/dr-penny-sartori-near-death-experiences

    • … [ It’s lovely to come here and see that people care about an iconic, eccentric and brave woman ]…

      ——————————-

      Yes ! That’s it !, – she was iconic !, she was wonderfully eccentric ! , she was brave !

      And a gutsy battler. In fact , she showed us all along with the likes of Sue Bradford and others just what a person can do when they really hold a passionate belief ! People like Penny Bright, … TBH,… we need far more to take her example. To take her lead to show that the power of this land is vested in us, the people of NZ. Not elected officials, – they are only the executors of the public’s wishes.

      And they SHOULD be held to account. They SHOULD be transparent. They SHOULD be called out if there is collusion against the public’s wishes.

      And there are plenty examples of that after the 1984 treasonous introduction of neo liberalism.

      RIP , Penny,… you were a true warrior-ess.

  2. I have been thinking about her yesterday and today !…She must still be around ha ha

    GO Penny in the ether….you will be remembered with LOVE!

    ( btw can we have some pics of Penny in her fighting prime… fighting for liberty and justice…as well as those on her death bed)

  3. Penny’s legacy was to stand up to the establishment and hold it to account, something she did it seems, right up to the time she took her last breath.

    Thank you Penny, you were a good ‘un.

    RIP Penny.

  4. So for all the enemy that stood in her way in this life need to stop and think for a while. You might think youre rid of her in this life, just remember when you about to go to the next one …. she’ll be waiting!

  5. well done Penny

    so many live in timid mediocrity, afraid of their own shadow, or intimidated by the authorities, or what others may think of them, from taking regular direct action

    she set a sterling example of how to actually practise “freedom of speech, assembly and association”!

  6. Penny you were and still are the bright star that outshone all others. You walked where others feared to go and you stood by your principles. Thomas Jefferson said – “In matters of style swim with the current. In matters of principle, stand like a rock”. Penny, you are that rock and your memory and legacy will keep that rock in place forever.

    You are free to fly now. All our love to you and your family.

  7. SAD to read this, rest in peace, Penny, others will need to carry on from where you let off, or had to let off.

  8. RIP Penny Bright at least you had the balls to do what many people would like to do, but do not have the will or the kahuna’s to do it.

    I think you had a lot of respect out there from the common people, although people would not admit it publicly, John Banks went slightly up in my estimations by visiting you however you probably thought it was the devil walking through the door.

  9. It is sad to read that Penny died at a relatively young age (64) after being such a champion for justice.

    Sadly, despite her efforts (and the efforts of others) nothing changes significantly for the better.

    For the moment, ‘the empire’ is too strong

  10. An admirable tenacious brilliant woman. Always on to it and never ever afraid. We are a poorer community for her passing. RIP Penny.

  11. Every now and again you will get somebody who will step forward and say ” this is not right ” and i am going to do something about it because it is the right thing to do.
    That was Penny Bright who had to make a lot of noise because everyone else had forgotten they do have a voice but are to fearful , lazy or indifferent to the injustice that is staring them in the face.
    Penny just like Helen Kelly you are a true patriot and you did not need a knighthood to acknowledge your real contribution to Auckland and the rest of us.

    Thank you for stepping forward and never wavering.

  12. Met her just the once with a mutual friend, tragically also recently deceased. Hopefully they will be protesting together. Resting in peace, bollocks, stay true to your path Penny.

  13. This really hits me, I met Penny repeatedly, she was a staunch fighter of a kind, and she was so strong, I felt embarassed at times to face her. I respect Penny totally as the most solid fighter for justice in the streets of Auckland, the city is a much poorer with her gone.

    This must be a strong signal for her to be remembered.

    Penny Bright deserves utmost respect by all Aucklanders.

  14. Our Hamilton supporters crowd will miss Penny very much. Words cannot express our loss and heartfelt sympathy goes to her love Julian, who valiantly looked after her all these months to the end. Love also to her siblings for the loss of their dear sister.
    Penny was an inspiration and helped guide us in our local communities. We will miss the times she would come and speak to our Residents & Ratepayers group or join in the protest like the TPPA. We would fetch her off the bus -her modus operandi, she would speak and we’d lunch and laugh and talk politics with her, she’d stay the night in our homes and we would deliver her back to the bus.
    The people of New Zealand owe a huge amount to Penny who blazed the way ensuring truth, justice, transparency and accountability (I’m sure there is more to this list!). As Penny said at her warrior(ess) counterpart’s funeral (Evelien Gilbert, blogger of Aotearoa a Wider Perspective) that we must pick up the ball and carry on. We will try our dear friend for you have left much to be done and I’m sure we will get the help from you above….Much love, Mischele, Tom, Carolyn,John, Rowena, Dawood, Russelle, Russell,Pat,Barry, Margaret, Ferne, Peni, Kelly, Michelle,Allister, Sue and many more… xxxxxxxx

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