Praise for Laws traced to his own firm

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Anonymous internet comments praising Whanganui's "celebrity" mayor Michael Laws have been traced back to his own publishing company.

A person using the pseudonym "Wangas" has praised Mr Laws on a variety of issues, including the "H" debate and television presenter Paul Henry's use of the word "retarded" on air.

At least two of the comments were sent using an email address that can be linked to Mr Laws' publishing company, Darius Press.

Mr Laws is the sole shareholder.

The email address regularly features on emails sent from Mr Laws' mayoral office, including one sent to media last week.

When approached by The Dominion Post, Mr Laws said he did not write the internet comments himself – but they could have been made by people close to him.

"I don't make anonymous comments, it's not in my nature," he said.

"All I can say is I don't make anonymous comments and I'm not prepared to speculate who it could be."

The mayor, newspaper columnist and radio host said he often commented online, but used his own name and made it clear that the comments were from him.

"I heartily enter in online debates."

He said the email address linked to Darius Press was used by employees of his company, including people who did research, communications and website work.

He would not say how many people worked for Darius Press.

"A number of people use that address. I wouldn't be surprised if they are people that use that address that make supportive comments of me.

"If they have been making these comments, then good on them, and I'd encourage them to keep it up."

"Wangas" commented on Wellington lawyer and former ACT MP Stephen Franks' blog, parrying criticism about Mr Laws' handling of the Whanganui port.

Mr Franks acted for River City Port Ltd, which leased the port and fought an attempt by Mr Laws to wrest back control.

Mr Franks called the Wanganui District Council Port and Harbour Bill "disgusting", but Wangas retorted with: "Actually Franks, it is your clients who are disgusting ..." The comment came from the Darius Press email address.

Another comment was posted late last year by Wangas on a Southland Times article about the dispute between Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and his deputy, Neil Boniface.

Wangas – a commonly used term for Whanganui – described the dispute as "bloody good entertainment" and said that it was "interesting how the other celebrity mayor Michael Laws has no problems with his council and even gets Parliament to pass legislation for him.

"Maybe Tim is too nice – if Laws ever turned own [sic] his council there wouldn't be a man left alive!"

Mr Laws resigned from Parliament in 1996 after admitting he had lied about a Napier City Council poll he had organised.

The poll was signed off by fictitious character Antoinette Beck, who was later revealed to be Mr Laws' parliamentary secretary, Louise Sampson.

- © Fairfax NZ News