A councillor in his 80s under investigation for an alleged assault has admitted being \u2018\u2018a bit naughty\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
Police and the Mackenzie District Council are both investigating an incident which occurred at the council\u2019s offices last week, reportedly involving Cr Frank Hocken. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Cr Hocken told the Christchurch-based Chris Lynch Media a code of conduct complaint was made against him, and though he would not elaborate, said he had \u2018\u2018upset the apple cart at the council\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I was probably a bit out of order. But never mind. I should not go into it. It was a bit naughty,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
When the\u00a0Otago Daily Times\u00a0asked Cr Hocken about the reports, he said \u2018\u2018I don\u2019t know about that, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any assault\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I’ve got no comment at any rate \u2014 but I think you’re all barking up the wrong tree.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018But at any rate, who knows, you’ll have to find out a bit harder than that \u2018cause I’m not saying nothing.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Council chief executive Angela Oosthuizen confirmed there was \u2018\u2018an incident at council offices last week involving an elected member\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The matter is subject to an investigation in line with council\u2019s code of conduct, and it would not be appropriate to comment further on the detail at this time,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
A police spokesperson said a report of an alleged assault had been received and enquires were in their very early stages.<\/p>\n
When asked, they declined to provide any other comment or information, including who made the report, if injuries were reported and if police had attended the incident.<\/p>\n
Cr Hocken also told Chris Lynch Media the council were “quite upset with me, and that\u2019s okay\u2019”.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018They can get over it. I\u2019ll let them get over it one way or another.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I might have to apologise, and I probably will if I\u2019ve got it, but I probably shouldn\u2019t have said what I did. But anyway, that\u2019s life. I\u2019ve said it, and they\u2019ve got to get over it.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n