Mayor apologises over blackface performance video

A South Island mayor has apologised for wearing blackface at a 2001 variety show hosted by Kiwi Hollywood stars Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement.

Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan appears in a YouTube clip, posted on May 19, performing as one of the world’s most influential jazz musicians – Louis Armstrong – at Starry Eyed Show in Queenstown nearly 20 years ago.

Blackface is a form of theatrical make-up used predominantly by non-black performers to represent a caricature of a black person. It is considered offensive and racist due to its origins in the United States.

The clip was posted by Nima Entertainment, which put on the show. Cadogan said yesterday the clip showed the result of ‘‘hours of rehearsal to try to emulate as best as I could one of my musical heroes, Louis Armstrong’’.

‘‘As part of that, looking as much like the original as possible was obviously part of the act.

‘‘Having said that, 19 years on I, like the rest of the world, look at things through a different lens.

‘‘Given the same set of circumstances now, it is not something I would consider doing. It was never my intent to cause offence to anyone then and if the clip causes anyone offence now, I am sorry.’’

The five-minute act is followed by an interview with Clement, of Flight of the Conchords, and Waititi, an Oscar-winning film-maker.

Nima Entertainment producer Nigel Hirst said the performance was not intended to offend.

He said the clip was posted during lockdown when he was putting ‘‘all the work out there’’ from the Starry Eyed shows.