{"id":9221,"date":"2026-08-06T07:23:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T07:23:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=9221"},"modified":"2026-08-06T07:23:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T07:23:55","slug":"new-zealand-councillor-jo-galer-bathroom-meeting-new-zealand-councillor-joins-zoom-meeting-from-bathroom-colleagues-say-we-can-see-your-washing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=9221","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Councillor Jo Galer Bathroom Meeting: New Zealand councillor joins Zoom meeting from bathroom; colleagues say, \u2018We can see your washing\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132986214,imgsize-239040,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg\" alt=\"New Zealand councillor joins Zoom meeting from bathroom; colleagues say, \u2018We can see your washing\u2019\" title=\"Pic credit: Screengrab from AFP YouTube video\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Pic credit: Screengrab from AFP YouTube video\">Pic credit: Screengrab from AFP YouTube video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Dunedin City Councillor Jo Galer washed her dirty laundry in public, literally. Well, she didn\u2019t exactly wash it, but she hung the entire load out during a televised council meeting.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>It happened on Monday when Galer dialled into a local government reform discussion from Glasgow via Zoom. One look at her camera feed, and the mayor gently suggested she reposition. Not for privacy, but to avoid the background: a bathroom with damp clothes left on the rail to air.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>When the background steals the spotlight<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>On Monday morning, as the Dunedin City Council meeting started, Mayor Sophie Barker informed the rest that two councillors would be joining via Zoom. <!-- -->\u201cWe can\u2019t see them yet. They are on the other side of the world, so it may take a little moment,\u201d Barker said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>Galer joined the call hoping to discuss council spending priorities and local government reorganisation, but the first thing anyone noticed was her backdrop, not her policy arguments. The councillor appeared to be joining the high-stakes meeting from her bathroom, with her laundry left in the background to dry.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>The eventful meeting<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>The City Council meeting was quite eventful. It took just over an hour for the council to begin discussions about local government reform. Before they could really get to the heart of it, first-term councillor Benedict Ong was kicked out of the meeting for disorderly conduct. \u201cYou need to stop, Councillor Ong, or you need to leave,\u201d Barker warned, before ordering him to leave.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/>The discussions resumed, only to be derailed when Jo Galer joined via Zoom. <!-- -->\u201cCan you hear me?\u201d she asked. Mayor Barker responded immediately, \u201cYes,\u201d and laughter erupted because Galer\u2019s background was quite a sight. Barker tactfully suggested repositioning the camera before Galer could launch into her remarks. \u201cYou might want to move your camera,\u201d Barker said. \u201cWe can see your washing.\u201d But Galer was remarkably unbothered: yes, the laundry was visible, but she saw no problem with proceeding as scheduled.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"21\"\/>\u201cUmm, OK\u2026 can you see me?\u201d Galer asked, to which Barker replied that they could.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/>Galer shrugged, as if it were no big deal, and added, \u201cThat\u2019s great. You can see my washing; you can see me. That is no problem.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>When her colleagues thought the awkward background laundry was the only thing they had to deal with, something else appeared on the screen.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>As Galer delivered her remarks on expenditure and government reform, something peculiar emerged in the video. <!-- -->Behind her, obscured by a frosted glass door, was a dark figure. The silhouette was distinct enough to prompt questions. Was someone inside the shower? Unbothered, Galer continued to discuss potential savings for ratepayers, as the mysterious figure remained behind the frosted door. At one point, a hand seemed to reach towards the glass before retreating, as if the person behind it had suddenly realised their presence was being broadcast to a public meeting.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>The video undoubtedly went viral, and netizens, of course, had a lot of questions. \u201cWho was in the shower? Was it her partner? Was she holding someone hostage?\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>The incident has also raised questions for anyone working from home: how much of your life should your professional meetings reveal? For Galer, the answer was considerably more than she\u2019d planned.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/rest-of-world\/new-zealand-councillor-joins-zoom-meeting-from-bathroom-colleagues-say-we-can-see-your-washing\/articleshow\/132985911.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pic credit: Screengrab from AFP YouTube video Dunedin City Councillor Jo Galer washed her dirty laundry in public, literally. Well, she didn\u2019t exactly wash it, but she hung the entire load out during a televised council meeting.It happened on Monday when Galer dialled into a local government reform discussion from Glasgow via Zoom. One look [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9222,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Pic credit: Screengrab from AFP YouTube video Dunedin City Councillor Jo Galer washed her dirty laundry in public, literally. Well, she didn\u2019t exactly wash it, but she hung the entire load out during a televised council meeting.It happened on Monday when Galer dialled into a local government reform discussion from Glasgow via Zoom. One look [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":2,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/we-can-see-your-washing_-nz-councillors-bathroom-zoom-call-goes-viral.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9221"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9221\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}