Warwick Slow
Encyclopedia
Warwick Slow is a New Zealand radio DJ and media personality from Wellington
, New Zealand
. Formerly employed by Hit Radio X105
, he was a regular on the stations night weekend shifts, before the stations closure on Tuesday 14 September 2010.
Slow gained notoriety because of a stunt that he undertook for the X105 radio station in which he managed to gatecrash a royal barbecue which was being held for Prince William, at Premier House
in Wellington. His goal was to provide the visiting prince with 'Sizzlers', an iconic New Zealand sausage, and buttered bread, however Slow mistimed his entrance and was removed by police before Prince William arrived.
and Tawa
during most of his childhood, which may have had an influence on his later life. He attended Onslow College
, and went on to attended the New Zealand Radio Training School, from which he graduated. He then began an intern
ship with a new Wellington-based radio station named Hit Radio X105 in late 2009.
residence through the main entrance, Slow climbed over a fence and proceeded through the foliage to the main party area, posing as catering staff and asking several guests where he should put the sausages and bread that he was carrying. The entire event was broadcast live on X105 via Slow's cellphone. After entering the ministerial residence, he was spotted and apprehended by New Zealand police and was escorted off the premises for questioning.
The packet of 'Sizzler' sausages used in the incident were later auctioned off on New Zealand auction website TradeMe
.
Although Prince William had not yet arrived at the venue, and Slow posed no perceivable threat to the future monarch, the incident left the New Zealand Police force embarrassed that such a major breach of security was possible, especially considering the high statue of persons present at the barbecue.
New Zealand police have chosen not to lay charges on Slow for the incident, saying that they accept he did not intend to commit any criminal acts whilst on the property, though he has been issued with a trespass notice barring him from Premier House for two years. A review of security procedures has begun concerning future royal visits as well, Wellington Police Area Commander Pete Cowan stated that "Future royal visits to this country will see increased security, increased personal protection".
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Formerly employed by Hit Radio X105
Hit Radio X105
Hit Radio X105 was a radio station launched in Wellington on 26 November 2009. The station broadcasted on 105.3FM in the Wellington region on one of the newly designated "local commercial licences" that were issued by the NZ Government in May 2008. As a result New Zealand's largest radio companies...
, he was a regular on the stations night weekend shifts, before the stations closure on Tuesday 14 September 2010.
Slow gained notoriety because of a stunt that he undertook for the X105 radio station in which he managed to gatecrash a royal barbecue which was being held for Prince William, at Premier House
Premier House
Premier House, on Tinakori Road in Wellington, New Zealand, is the official residence of the Prime Minister of New Zealand.The original building, constructed in the early days of the New Zealand colony in 1843 is located at the southern end of the current building, and was greatly expanded two...
in Wellington. His goal was to provide the visiting prince with 'Sizzlers', an iconic New Zealand sausage, and buttered bread, however Slow mistimed his entrance and was removed by police before Prince William arrived.
Early life
Warwick grew up in Wellngton, notably living in Titahi BayTitahi Bay
Titahi Bay is a suburb of Porirua in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the foot of a short peninsula along the west coast of the Porirua Harbour, to the north of Porirua city centre. The suburb's population in 2006 was 7,527...
and Tawa
Tawa, New Zealand
Tawa is the northernmost suburb of Wellington located between Churton Park and Porirua in the North Island of New Zealand. It takes its name from the broadleaf tree, which was once prolific throughout the area, although its most famous tree is the Bucket Tree, a group of large macrocarpa with the...
during most of his childhood, which may have had an influence on his later life. He attended Onslow College
Onslow College
Onslow College is a decile 10 co-educational state secondary school located in Johnsonville, a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand. The school opened in 1956 to serve the city's rapidly-growing northern suburbs. The new Principal will be Mr. Peter Leggat, and he will begin at the start of the School...
, and went on to attended the New Zealand Radio Training School, from which he graduated. He then began an intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
ship with a new Wellington-based radio station named Hit Radio X105 in late 2009.
Royal barbecue and controversy
On the 18th of January 2010, Slow attempted to provide Prince William with sausages and bread at an official royal barbecue, which took place at Premier House in Wellington. After attempting, and failing, to enter the Prime Minister'sPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
residence through the main entrance, Slow climbed over a fence and proceeded through the foliage to the main party area, posing as catering staff and asking several guests where he should put the sausages and bread that he was carrying. The entire event was broadcast live on X105 via Slow's cellphone. After entering the ministerial residence, he was spotted and apprehended by New Zealand police and was escorted off the premises for questioning.
The packet of 'Sizzler' sausages used in the incident were later auctioned off on New Zealand auction website TradeMe
TradeMe
Trade Me is the largest Internet-auction website operating in New Zealand. Managed by Trade Me Ltd the site was founded in 1999 by New Zealand entrepreneurSam Morgan who sold it to Fairfax in 2006 for NZ$700 million...
.
Although Prince William had not yet arrived at the venue, and Slow posed no perceivable threat to the future monarch, the incident left the New Zealand Police force embarrassed that such a major breach of security was possible, especially considering the high statue of persons present at the barbecue.
New Zealand police have chosen not to lay charges on Slow for the incident, saying that they accept he did not intend to commit any criminal acts whilst on the property, though he has been issued with a trespass notice barring him from Premier House for two years. A review of security procedures has begun concerning future royal visits as well, Wellington Police Area Commander Pete Cowan stated that "Future royal visits to this country will see increased security, increased personal protection".