Action by Dunedin\u2019s mayor to bar city councillor Benedict Ong from informal meetings was legally sound, he has been told.<\/p>\n
Claims by Cr Ong relating to limitations on him were roundly rejected by Dunedin City Council chief executive Sandy Graham after she received legal advice.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I strongly advise you not to make public statements alleging illegality by the mayor or any public official, because you risk being personally sued for defamation,\u2019\u2019 Ms Graham said.<\/p>\n
The matter dates back to a February 20 email by Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker about her withdrawing privileges from Cr Ong following behaviour she described as disrespectful, as well as him refusing to remove disparaging commentary online about Ms Graham.<\/p>\n
Cr Ong has since continued to make contentious statements, such as that the mayor was blocking him from meeting staff.<\/p>\n
Ms Barker rejected that and Ms Graham said she considered the mayor had not acted illegally.<\/p>\n
Cr Ong received this assessment yesterday, on the same day he had walked out of the council chamber before a meeting.<\/p>\n
In the minutes before yesterday\u2019s Te Pae M\u0101ori committee began, Cr Ong arrived and noted his name plate was not set out.<\/p>\n
Ms Graham told Cr Ong he could attend the meeting, but not speak or vote, as he was not a committee member.<\/p>\n
Cr Ong objected to a lack of speaking rights, saying he did not want to be seen sitting there and saying nothing.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I want to be here, contributing,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Yes, well that\u2019s not an option,\u2019\u2019 Ms Graham replied.<\/p>\n
Cr Ong packed up and left, stopping to complain to the meeting\u2019s two security guards on his way out.<\/p>\n
Soon after the meeting started, Ms Graham spoke about the incident.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Cr Ong wanted to speak and when I explained to him he was welcome to attend, but would not be able to speak, he decided he didn\u2019t want to be seen sitting here and not contributing on the livestream,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018He also thinks that he\u2019s being shut down, but he\u2019s not \u2014 it\u2019s simply the protocol under which this meeting is running.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Had he taken advice prior to attending, I would have provided him with that advice.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
For example, Cr Christine Garey was not a committee member and watched yesterday\u2019s meeting online, Ms Graham said.<\/p>\n
Membership of Te Pae is a combination of appointed representatives from mana whenua, m\u0101t\u0101waka and councillors.<\/p>\n
In a Facebook post 30 minutes later, Cr Ong said economic development and financial welfare of M\u0101ori in Dunedin was a priority for him.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018However, our council chief executive Sandy Graham has instructed me prior to the meeting\u2019s start that I will not be able to contribute to the meeting.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Cr Ong is expected to work with staff next week on a presentation to the council\u2019s finance and performance committee about his much-touted debt financing proposals.<\/p>\n
Ms Graham referred to this in her email to him, saying he was free to arrange meetings with members of the executive.<\/p>\n
Ms Barker\u2019s list of meetings to which Cr Ong would no longer be invited included those she hosted with councillors and the executive leadership team.<\/p>\n
Ms Graham said this did not amount to restricted access to that team.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018This informal meeting occurs roughly every fortnight,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018These are informal meetings where no decisions are made. It is entirely at the mayor\u2019s discretion who to invite to these meetings.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Cr Ong replied that he appreciated Ms Graham\u2019s consideration regarding access.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018However, I do not believe each of our executive leadership team members would appreciate a double usage of their time in their dedicated service to our community for a one-to-one meeting with me to cover what was covered exactly in the meeting with elected members I have been blocked from.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n