Wellington City Councillors Accused of Leaking Confidential Info Refuse to Cooperate
A group of Wellington City Councillors is facing accusations of leaking confidential information, but they are refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The allegations stem from a closed-door meeting held to discuss the purchase of the land beneath the derelict Reding Cinemas site on Courtenay Place. Details from the meeting were later disclosed by the media, prompting an inquiry into the matter.
Four Wellington City Councillors are vehemently denying the allegations, claiming that they have been unfairly targeted for breaching the Council’s rules. According to Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young, this is an attempt to silence strong councillors whose political views do not align with that of the Mayor. Another councillor, Ray Chung, believes that it is revenge for a code of conduct complaint filed against the Mayor two months ago.
The controversy revolves around a private Council meeting held last month to discuss the purchase of the land beneath the derelict Reading Cinema, which had closed due to earthquake risk. Coincidentally, the same week saw the Mayor revealing that the nearby Town Hall restoration project had exceeded its budget by $147 million. In response, these councillors raised concerns about the Council’s finances and lack of fiscal discipline.
Wellington City Councillor Tony Randle emphasized that the Council needed to make tough decisions regarding spending, citing the significant financial challenges they face. The group argues that they have been targeted with a code of conduct complaint because of their public comments on finances and the Town Hall project. However, they dismiss these allegations as baseless, without any evidence to support them.
Newshub reached out to Mayor Tory Whanau for an interview to address the councillors’ claims, but she declined. The Mayor did confirm that an investigation is being led by Wellington Lawyer Linda Clark, though the accused councillors have refused to cooperate. Calvert, one of the councillors under investigation, stated that they see no point in attending the meeting. Young added that if the Mayor is genuinely concerned about leaks, she should focus on fixing the literal leaking pipes rather than accusing politicians of leaking information.
These councillors are eager to put an end to the investigation so they can focus on what they consider to be more pressing matters. However, the implications of the alleged leaks and the refusal to cooperate raise questions about transparency and the Council’s ability to govern effectively. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the reputation and functioning of Wellington City Council.
In conclusion, four Wellington City Councillors accused of leaking confidential information are refusing to cooperate with an investigation. They perceive the accusations as politically motivated and retaliatory, stemming from a code of conduct complaint filed against the Mayor. The dispute arises from a closed-door meeting discussing the purchase of land beneath a derelict cinema site. With the investigation ongoing, questions regarding transparency and governance within Wellington City Council remain unanswered.
