Whitianga Podcast Garners Worldwide Attention, Highlighting the Power of Independent Local Media
Chef Andrew Lee, a veteran of the hospitality industry with over 35 years of experience, recently made a controversial statement on the podcast Altbays Show, produced in Coromandel. During his appearance, Lee declared that “the problem with Australia is that there are too many Australians”, and went on to claim that Australians are lazy workers. He stated that if given the opportunity, he would fill his kitchen with staff from New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina.
A clip from the show featuring Lee’s remarks quickly went viral on TikTok, garnering over 200,000 views. This led to a heated debate and widespread media coverage, with articles about the podcast appearing in news outlets around the world such as the Daily Mail UK, the NZ Herald, NY Breaking, Newshub NZ, and news.com.au, among others.
Opinions on the matter were mixed. Many commentators pointed out that the hospitality industry, in particular, has a history of low pay and poor working conditions, which can make it difficult for employers to attract and retain workers. Some argued that this is a more pressing issue than the supposed laziness of Australians or any other nationality.
The international attention brought to the Altbays Show, and its hosts, Leo Magri and Fabian Roberts, was seen as a positive development for the independent Coromandel media outlet, despite the polemic statement. The laid-back conversation format of the show is a key factor in its popularity. Independent media can make an impact in today’s world!
The Altbays Show live streamed episode number 150 in January. The platform brings people from different backgrounds to have honest conversations and the future is promising. “We have fun producing these shows. More people in Aotearoa, New Zealand and around the world find out about us every day and the feedback we receive is gratifying. We are currently working on fantastic new projects, so watch this space”’ says Leo Magri, Altbays Show host.
Watch Andrew Lee’s episode and all the other great shows on the Altbays Youtube Channel below.
