AIBU to say 'telling it like it is' has a place.

[StoneofDestiny]

After a large family of Brit tourists went on a rampage of stealing, intimidation, threatening and loutish behaviour, the Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff didn’t hold back in sharing his thoughts, blasting the visitors as "worse than pigs". “What a bunch of aholes, these guys are trash" "We know who those people are now, I’ve asked council to follow up, because I want to see them loaded with an infringement fine for trashing our country.”

Yes, I think telling it like it is has a place. Pussyfooting around insolent, rude or nasty people doesn't really get anywhere.

I think telling it like it is does have a place and I think in your example it is totally appropriate.

When it is not appropriate is when people use it as an excuse for bullying or just generally being rude about something/someone. Like 'oh so and so is really fat, just telling it like it is'

Yes I agree.
I often think people "need a good telling".

I think it was more than fair of Phil Goff to say that. It makes it very clear to people that this sort of behaviour is not tolerated in NZ, and will be followed up on. This family have made things very unpleasant for themselves, as well as for New Zealanders, with their anti-social and downright criminal behaviour, I'm glad their feeling the heat.

And I call total bullshit on their claims that their behaviour at the beach that kicked off the first story of all the litter they left behind and how abusive they were to people that called them out on their litter, was as a result of their son being bullied without any provocation.

What I haven't liked, is how this family were identified as Irish, and as Travellers, both of which it appears are incorrect. I've been a tad mortified, because that was completely unfair to both the Irish, and to travellers.

It's seems the family are from England (Liverpool) and even caused problems on the flight - and there is video evidence of their stealing in more than one place. Their behaviour does look very feral.
I think the Mayors' use of pretty direct language to describe them seems appropriate in this case.