3 days ago
High-profile donor withdraws support of mayoral candidate Ray Chung after gossip email about mayor
Chung sent an email to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he had been told about Tory Whanau by his neighbour.
Photo:
Supplied / Facebook
A high-profile donor has withdrawn his support for mayoral candidate Ray Chung in
the face of an email scandal
, while another supporter is continuing to back his mayoral campaign.
Ray Chung sent an email, seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he had been told about mayor Tory Whanau by his neighbour about the neighbour's son.
Whanau rejected the contents of the email and said it was false and contained a "malicious and sexist rumour", that she was now seeking legal advice on.
Rich-lister and philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik said in a statement he did not support Chung's behaviour.
"I believe that the city will best be served by a mayor and councillors who bring a mix of business and local body experience. At various times I have met with and spoken to a number of different mayoral and councillor candidates.
"Assuming the recent media reports, about dirty politics, are correct I am disappointed, I do not support that behaviour nor will I support any candidates who engage in it.
"I urge all candidates to engage in a clean campaign and address the important and urgent issues facing the city, they should play the ball not the person," Dunajtschik said.
Alistair Boyce, from the group Better Wellington, behind Chung's Independent Together ticket, said he was still backing Chung.
He rejected Chung's email was sexist or malicious and said the release of it two and a half years' later was "dirty politics".
"It was not a public email, or a public statement, there was nothing public from Ray about that, it was a private email."
He rejected Chung's language in the email was sexist or malicious, but that he was "very naive" in sending it.
"He was only two to two and a half months into his tenure as a councillor, a first-time councillor, he doesn't know protocols or procedures.
"So he was very naive to put that - he should have probably just discussed it privately, in person, and said this is the situation I've come up against, with a constituent who has related this story."
He said Chung could "chill-back" a bit in his campaign work, but that he was in no way saying he should step back from the race.
"Ray yesterday worked from 5am in the morning until 10 o'clock at night. Now according to my maths, that's something like 17 hours straight.
"Do you think that's a good idea?"
Whanau said in a statement that it was deeply concerning that individuals spreading "harmful falsehoods" were now standing for election.
She said spreading rumours was a tactic "designed to dehumanise, wear people down, and discourage good people from standing for public office".
"(I) am speaking publicly because I believe we must take a stand against these kinds of false, sexist, and personal attacks," the statement said.
"Our city deserves elected members who uphold the highest standards of respect, honesty, and integrity."
Chung, on
Morning Report
, said he wouldn't object to apologising to the mayor.
"On hindsight, if that was now, I think we're more aware of the things that we should or shouldn't say or the things that we should or shouldn't pass on. I think that I'm wiser now after a couple of years in council."
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