Celebrities Who Didn't Enjoy Their Visits To NZ

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  • 1/5
    Graeme Smith: In 2004, Graeme Smith, the then-captain of the South African cricket squad, angered Hamilton by referring to it as a "hillbilly city" in a newspaper column, although he claimed it wasn't an insult. "The spectators appear marginally more rough and ready than at other venues and they clearly pride themselves on their turn of phrase," he wrote. "One of our senior players was told that his mother was his brother, which none of us understood, but all recognised as an insult." "When our man replied that the bearded man's mother was probably a sheep, he replied: 'Yeah and bloody proud of it'." Even Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt jumped to defend Hamilton. "It's a serious issue for small-town New Zealand, the sort of thing that could result in an extra star from the tourism board, and the basis for one of those catch-by slogans like, 'Hamilton, there's nothing wrong with it'," he said.
    1/5 Graeme Smith: In 2004, Graeme Smith, the then-captain of the South African cricket squad, angered Hamilton by referring to it as a "hillbilly city" in a newspaper column, although he claimed it wasn't an insult. "The spectators appear marginally more rough and ready than at other venues and they clearly pride themselves on their turn of phrase," he wrote. "One of our senior players was told that his mother was his brother, which none of us understood, but all recognised as an insult." "When our man replied that the bearded man's mother was probably a sheep, he replied: 'Yeah and bloody proud of it'." Even Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt jumped to defend Hamilton. "It's a serious issue for small-town New Zealand, the sort of thing that could result in an extra star from the tourism board, and the basis for one of those catch-by slogans like, 'Hamilton, there's nothing wrong with it'," he said.
  • 2/5
    John Cleese: English comedian John Cleese angered the mayor of Palmy in 2006 when he described the city as "the suicide capital of New Zealand" on his website. "If you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick," he elaborated. The audience laughed at all the wrong places and Cleese said he had a thoroughly miserable time. "The weather was grotty, the theatre was a nasty shape and the audience was very strange to play to." Palmerston North's mayor Heather Tanguay hit back at the funnyman, suggesting his medical problems were to blame for his attitude.
    2/5 John Cleese: English comedian John Cleese angered the mayor of Palmy in 2006 when he described the city as "the suicide capital of New Zealand" on his website. "If you wish to kill yourself but lack the courage to, I think a visit to Palmerston North will do the trick," he elaborated. The audience laughed at all the wrong places and Cleese said he had a thoroughly miserable time. "The weather was grotty, the theatre was a nasty shape and the audience was very strange to play to." Palmerston North's mayor Heather Tanguay hit back at the funnyman, suggesting his medical problems were to blame for his attitude.
  • 3/5
    Prince Charles: His thoughts were contained in a public letter, but it seems it wasn't all smiles and waves on the royal tour of 1981, where Prince Charles got really, really sick of New Zealanders making fun of him for falling off a horse in Australia. "Kindless, fallacious remarks and references about falling off horses are beginning to get through to me," he wrote in a letter to a close friend which has since been sold at auction. "It seems as though the main thing they know about me out here! It all increases my determination to make them laugh out the other side of their faces one day!" he continued. The disgruntled Prince of Wales went on to take a swipe at the young New Zealanders who came out to greet him. "If one more NZ child asks me what it's like to be a prince I shall go demented," he wrote.
    3/5 Prince Charles: His thoughts were contained in a public letter, but it seems it wasn't all smiles and waves on the royal tour of 1981, where Prince Charles got really, really sick of New Zealanders making fun of him for falling off a horse in Australia. "Kindless, fallacious remarks and references about falling off horses are beginning to get through to me," he wrote in a letter to a close friend which has since been sold at auction. "It seems as though the main thing they know about me out here! It all increases my determination to make them laugh out the other side of their faces one day!" he continued. The disgruntled Prince of Wales went on to take a swipe at the young New Zealanders who came out to greet him. "If one more NZ child asks me what it's like to be a prince I shall go demented," he wrote.
  • 4/5
    Rolling Stones: Back in 1965, either Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards or singer Mick Jagger famously described Invercargill as "the arsehole of the world" after the band played at the Civic Theatre. Years later, in 2009, the local council discovered a further crime against its fine city, a piece of graffiti in the band room at the theatre that simply read "Mick Jagger 65". Clearly not a fan of the southern end of the country, Richards later hit out against Dunedin in his autobiography Life, describing the city as a "black hole". "I don't think you could find anything more depressing anywhere," he wrote. "Dunedin made Aberdeen seem like Las Vegas."
    4/5 Rolling Stones: Back in 1965, either Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards or singer Mick Jagger famously described Invercargill as "the arsehole of the world" after the band played at the Civic Theatre. Years later, in 2009, the local council discovered a further crime against its fine city, a piece of graffiti in the band room at the theatre that simply read "Mick Jagger 65". Clearly not a fan of the southern end of the country, Richards later hit out against Dunedin in his autobiography Life, describing the city as a "black hole". "I don't think you could find anything more depressing anywhere," he wrote. "Dunedin made Aberdeen seem like Las Vegas."
  • 5/5
    Tyler, the Creator: The rap group Odd Future first visited New Zealand in 2012, where they were set to play the Big Day Out. However, their performance was axed following complaints their lyrics were homophobic and encouraged "bullying and violence". The group were subsequently banned from entering the country again last year, after being determined a threat to public order. Frontman Tyler, the Creator, took to Twitter to rant against the decision. "OF IS BANNED FROM NEW ZEALAND, AGAIN. THEY SAID WE WERE 'TERRORIST THREATS AND BAD FOR THE SOCIETY' OR WHATEVER. SICK. THEY ARE ANTI GOLF," he tweeted. Odd Future were later blocked from entering Australia as well.
    5/5 Tyler, the Creator: The rap group Odd Future first visited New Zealand in 2012, where they were set to play the Big Day Out. However, their performance was axed following complaints their lyrics were homophobic and encouraged "bullying and violence". The group were subsequently banned from entering the country again last year, after being determined a threat to public order. Frontman Tyler, the Creator, took to Twitter to rant against the decision. "OF IS BANNED FROM NEW ZEALAND, AGAIN. THEY SAID WE WERE 'TERRORIST THREATS AND BAD FOR THE SOCIETY' OR WHATEVER. SICK. THEY ARE ANTI GOLF," he tweeted. Odd Future were later blocked from entering Australia as well.

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Following Lewis Hamilton's outbursts about Sky City Casino, Auckland, we remember some of the notorious names who left New Zealand with a bitter taste in the mouth.

Story: NZHerald

Images: Getty Images