Anyone on the Zoom call,including a curious Hawke's Bay Today reporter, or those listening on the livestream, could hear.
It's Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Maori language week) from Monday, and one of the popular phrases this year is destined to be - "you're on mute - Kua whakangūtia koe"
Or maybe "Unmute your mic - Whakakorengūtia tō hopuoro".
Aue ehoa! Councillor Kevin Watkins wasn't on mute though.
Luckily for Watkins, he didn't say anything too embarrassing, and it seems his koromatua - mayor - realised the situation and cut in and saved the day.
But not before Watkins had congratulated the person on the phone, who appeared to be a fellow councillor, on how well they had spoken at the meeting.
Watkins also commented on the hui progress - or lack of progress. This was a few weeks ago - the hui ended well.
Mason Emerson, in his last match in a Magpies jersey, before heading to France. Photo / NZME
Watkins didn't want to say much to Hawke's Bay Today about it after. He chose to stay on mute.
Hawke's Bay pro-rugby player Mason Emerson is in France on a contract and in today's Hawke's Bay Today has shared his experience of new Covid related technology.
It is a barcode on his phone, which confirms that he has had two Covid-19 vaccinations.
In France, you need to show this in public places and restaurants/cafes or they won't let you in.
Having had my first Covid-19 jab last month, I promptly lost the vaccination card given to me that proves I'd had it.
After searching the usual spots that my cards or eftpos cards turn up in, I narrowed the search down to a pair of jeans.
Alas, empty pockets, and empty handed.
A few days later, a kind Napier resident Julie-Ann Postings emailed me to ask if I was the Craig Cooper who had recently had a Covid jab and might have lost a vaccination card.
Julie-Ann warned me it appeared to have been run over a few times, and left it in her letterbox so I could collect it.
The letterbox was an easy walk from our home, on a path my wife and I regularly take for some respite from the matrimonial bubble.
It's now in a safe place pending my second jab next Wednesday. Roll on cellphone barcodes.
From Monday, Hawke's Bay Today's masthead on the front page will change slightly.
In the past, we have traditionally included te reo in our masthead in recognition of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
From Monday, our masthead will permanently include a te reo translation.
As editor, I'm delighted that the week coincides with Tihei Kahungunu's regular fortnightly space. 'Tihei' as we affectionately call it, provides our readers with news and information through a Ngāti Kahungunu te ao Māori lens.
Tihei has changed its style a little this year, and has introduced knowledge about Ngāti Kahungunu marae, and legend.
This information is a taonga for all Hawke's Bay residents, it is the bedrock of our sense of place in this beautiful region.
New Zealand has grown up - in some way or another, every week should be Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
That's my korero - kia ora.
And remember, he kā te hopuoro i ngā wā katoa - the microphone is always on.
