Claim councillor told another to 'f*** off' after 'true history' clash
Photo:
LDR / Laura Smith
A council discussion on adding funds to Rotorua Museum's exhibition project morphed into a debate over whether the city's "true history" would be displayed.
One councillor claims another told him to "f*** off" after the meeting. The accused says he did not say those words but his message was correctly inferred.
Rotorua Lakes Council decided in a meeting on Wednesday to fund a further $181,700 through debt to progress the exhibition project, to be matched by Rotorua Trust, to cover a funding shortfall.
The project is preparing the exhibitions for the museum, which is set to start reopening in 2027 at the earliest, after more than a decade closed for earthquake strengthening renovations.
The council had secured $1.062 million of $9.51m in funding needed for the exhibitions.
Wednesday's unanimous decision means exhibition funding would not be 100 percent external as previously planned, but progressing the exhibition work secured other funding agreements, including $17.1m towards construction.
Councillors debated a recommendation from the exhibition project steering group to accept a concept design and progress to a developed design.
Councillor Robert Lee voted against this and began asking whether Rotorua's "true history" would be portrayed once the museum opened. He disputed that iwi gifted the land for the town.
Rotorua Lakes Councillor Robert Lee at a June 2025 meeting.
Photo:
LDR / Laura Smith
Fisher Wang interrupted with a point of order on irrelevance, and Deputy Mayor Sandra Kai Fong asked Lee to rephrase his question several times.
Karen Barker repeated Wang's call. Kai Fong said they'd had previous discussions on the matter and called for other questions.
"I think you have an opinion on that and I'm sure everyone has a different recollection and view on history and events," Kai Fong said.
Lee later raised it again.
"I've been told that assurance [of historical accuracy] is not going to be forthcoming."
Wang called for a point of order for misrepresentation, which Kai Fong agreed to.
Rotorua Lakes Councillor Fisher Wang at a June 2025 meeting.
Photo:
LDR / Laura Smith
Lee said there were nine sections in the permanent exhibition wing of the museum dedicated to "tell Rotorua's story".
He believed this was told in a 1948 commission of inquiry that heard "various grievances" from Ngāti Whakaue, and the iwi accepted a settlement offer.
"It does say here this exhibition is to enable Te Arawa storytelling in a sympathetic way.
"That's fine but if the history is not going to be told, it's not a museum exhibition I can endorse."
Rawiri Waru "wholeheartedly" supported getting things moving to provide the community and those working on the project some assurance.
He addressed Lee's comments on historical accuracy.
"If you knew the people we are working with, their integrity is unquestionable.
"They will tell it, warts and all."
Rotorua Lakes Councillor Rawiri Waru at a June 2025 meeting.
Photo:
LDR / Laura Smith
Regarding the 1948 commission, he said Ngāti Whakaue could not even choose their own representatives or have involvement in the report.
His grandfather was present at the time, he said. "Maybe there's some history there that would be nice to hear."
After the meeting, Wang posted to social media he and Lee later argued about the call of misrepresentation.
He said Lee belittled him, called him "boy", and said "if you can't back up your claim of misrepresentation ... then you can f*** off".
Wang said he could back it up, as Kai Fong ruled in his favour.
"It's sad to say this isn't the first time this kind of behaviour has happened, and I know it won't be the last, but I can only bite my tongue for so long. Integrity matters."
Lee told Local Democracy Reporting he hadn't actually said the words "f*** off", but had trailed off. He said Wang inferred his meaning correctly, however.
Lee said it started as a courteous and quiet conversation but alleged Wang became "increasingly agitated" when pressed him on the validity of the misrepresentation dispute.
Lee believed it was invalid, as he had not received the assurance he asked for.
If he had received it, he said he would have changed his vote.
Last year Lee and Wang clashed over a Rainbow Storytime event at the library, which Wang supported but Lee viewed as inappropriate for children.
The council will consider options for when and how to reopen the museum late this year or early next year, once it had more information about the design and funding.
Of the $72.35m construction cost, $56.85m is externally funded.
If the museum was to reopen all at once rather than in stages, the exhibition fitout would likely be ready for a June 2028 opening.
To offset the further exhibition borrowing, the council's community experience group will reduce its 2024/25 financial year operational expenditures by $181,700.
The Rotorua Trust portion would be repaid if there was money left over when the project finished.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
In-fighting and claims of bullying at Southland licensing trust
The Mataura Licensing Trust has its office in Gore and services an extended area within Southland. Photo: Supplied / LDR / Wikicommons The president of a southern licensing trust said he will not accept his deputy's apology following a fiery meeting this week. Gore-based Mataura Licensing Trust operates a range of alcohol-related businesses in Southland with a mandate for redistributing profits within the community. On Thursday, tempers flared at one of its meetings after president Horace McAuley accused deputy Vince Aynsley of bullying in his president's report. The situation centred on an incident at the New Zealand Licensing Trusts Association conference in Invercargill on 19 July, where McAuley alleged Aynsley asked him how he would feel when he was no longer president next term. The Otago Daily Times was at Thursday's meeting and said Aynsley could not recall the exchange but would apologise for whatever he hypothetically said. An argument then began between president McAuley and board member Jeannine Cunningham over an employment issue - but not before she alleged the president had blown up at a previous meeting and was guilty of bullying himself. Cunningham claimed she was approached by multiple people at the Invercargill conference asking: "when are you getting rid of Horace?" Despite the in-fighting, McAuley shut down any suggestion that the licensing trust was dysfunctional. "Never in your life. Never, ever, ever," McAuley told Local Democracy Reporting . Mataura Licensing Trust president Horace McAuley, left, deputy president Vince Aynsley, and board member Jeannine Cunningham. Photo: Supplied / Local Democracy Reporting The issues had not dissuaded him from wanting to stay on at the trust, and he noted he had been elected president unopposed since 2010. "We're a busy trust, and as their president, I have an awful lot to do. And so I'm not focusing on this," he said. "To be fair to both myself and the Mataura Licensing Trust, it's a distraction, and the person responsible for the distraction is the person who should answer the questions. "That's Vince Aynsley." McAuley said he "received" Aynsley's apology, which was different to "accepting" it. Aynsley did not wish to comment on the situation but said he had asked McAuley how he would feel "hypothetically" if he wasn't president next year. "I'm in no rush to talk or bring down Horace or say anything in public at this stage." The president's dig at his deputy was not the only criticism Aynsley faced at the meeting. Another member, Bryan Burgess, claimed Aynsley underhandedly took his deputy role three years ago, which Aynsley accepted. Licensing trust elections run at the same time as local body elections, with the president selected by members. The next election is set for 11 October. Mataura Licensing Trust controls a total of 12 liquor outlets, bars, restaurants and accommodation providers from Tapanui in the north to Tokonui in the south. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
The value of Youth MPs put under a question mark
Photo: VNP/Louis Collins A former politician says change is needed to the Youth Parliament system if it's to stay relevant. MP-turned political commentator Peter Dunne says the scheme isn't just "a rag-tag collection of young people coming together for a couple of days to play at being MPs", but if the event is going to be taken seriously, more consistency is required around its processes. That's not the case at the moment, in everything from how the teens are selected to the quality of the mentorship they're getting. The tri-annual event usually passes under the media radar, but this year's event was overshadowed by what a handful of Youth MPs said was censorship of their speeches . Dunne says he could understand the intention behind the message from the Ministry of Youth Development, which asked some students to remove parts of their speeches where they lacked political neutrality, but the issue could have been handled better. In the end, none of the students were stopped from making their speeches, even if they didn't make the changes. Youth Parliament has been held every three years for the past three decades and is described by the government as, "a unique opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn first-hand about our democracy, influence government decision-making, and have their voices heard". In many ways it's like the real thing, with MPs selecting teens to represent them for a couple of days in Parliament where they debate, give speeches and discuss fictional legislation. Dunne says often the young adults outshine the older MPs. "The contrast has usually been between the impeccable behaviour of the youth MPs and the somewhat unruly behaviour of their adult counterparts," he says. The first Youth Parliament was held in 1995 and initially was just a couple of days. Now the programme has expanded, running from April to August and Dunne questions how much teens take out of those extra two months and 29 days. "And more importantly, what weight is attached to that? They've got no formal status in the community, so what role can they play?" he asks. Dunne says much of what the young aspiring politicians learn and do is dependent on the MP they are mentored by. "In some cases they won't do very much, in some cases the MP will work actively with them and assign them a particular project," Dunne says. There also aren't any rules around how MPs select their mentee. Some get applicants to write essays, this year David Seymour held an election, and Dunne says a couple just shoulder tap the kids of a mate. "The time is right to have a proper review into its function and purpose, including the role of the Youth MPs, how they're selected and what are reasonable expectations of them. "Because I think that with a much clearer focus the youth parliament can play a much greater role than it has done to date," Dunne says. Oscar Duffy, representing List MP Melissa Lee became interested in politics last year when his nan was in hospital. "She's a Māori lady and she didn't have the best experience ... so that was a pretty key driver in me being interested in what's going on. "Obviously there's so much tension between Māori and the Crown ... and that affects my family really directly," he says. Duffy agrees that the degree of mentorship varies. He spent substantial time working on projects in his community and in Lee's Mount Albert office but says others didn't have the same experience. "[Ministers] have no time right? Ministers are so busy, I roomed with Simeon Brown's Youth MP and he didn't really see Simeon a lot, if at all," he says. Duffy sees youth parliament as an opportunity for those interested in politics to get an insight into the system. He says everyone attending this year had a keen interest in advocacy and change-making, but he admits that at times some see their role as more important than it is. "There's just a lot of politically charged people in one room. "Putting them all in the same room is great and it gets everyone talking to each other and firing off really good initiatives ... but yeah I guess some of them do think they are a bit more important than they are which is a shame because they probably should be more important and have more of a say," he says. But if he could change one thing Duffy would raise the age bracket because he thinks 16 is too young. "Even just move it up one year, 17-19, so there's more first year uni students who have been through high school, who have seen the whole system," he says. Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
New Zealand not part of 'trifecta' with Cook Islands and China, Winston Peters says
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, left, and Cook Islands Prime MinisterMark Brown. Photo: RNZ/Pacific Islands Forum/123RF Winston Peters says the Cook Islands has described its relationship with New Zealand as "part of a trifecta" when dealing with China. The comment from the New Zealand foreign minister comes at a time of increased tension between Cook Islands and New Zealand. At the heart of that tension is four agreements Cook Islands signed with China in February. Peters told Pacific Waves "there are things going wrong". He also rejected Cook Islands' Prime Minister Mark Brown's position that the two nations had a reciprocal relationship , therefore neither had to consult one another on foreign trade arrangements. "They were required under our arrangement and agreement to consult with us when these matters might affect more widely themselves but also other countries and our relationship," Peters said. "To describe us as part of a trifecta when we've got the special relationship for 60 years is utterly wrong." A spokesman for Peters clarified Peters was referring to the way New Zealand had effectively been described as a third-party by the Cook Islands in its agreements with China. Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand. Under that arrangement, implemented in 1965, the country governed its own affairs, but New Zealand provided assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief and defence. Despite that, the current diplomatic rift has resulted in a pause in funding of $18.2 million by the New Zealand government. That occurred last month. And while there have been ongoing discussions between the two nations, this week Prime Minister Mark Brown told a Cook Islands audience that if New Zealand could not afford to fund the country's national infrastructure investment plan - funding the development needs of the Cook Islands was a major motivator in signing the agreements with China. Peters' responded by challenging Brown to call a referendum - a position he doubled-down on when he spoke to Pacific Waves . "They can let us know whether they want the relationship or whether they want independence," he said. "Because if you behave like you want independence, then above all, that, should be up to the Cook Islands people to decide, not just a temporarily-empowered politician or government." The whole population of the Cook Islands should have a say, he said. "Politicians come and go, governments come and go, ministers come and go. But our purpose is to ensure the long-term, enduring relationship between the New Zealand people and the Cook Islands people." Peters also touched on previous disagreements with the Cook Islands over its sovereignty and foreign policy arrangements. "There were times in the past when this issue arose and we had agreements and pacts, declarations or statements … to give us the parameters of our future relationship, as we last did in [2001] under Helen Clark and [Terepai] Moate, who was then the prime minister of the Cook Islands. "And here we are, 24 years … on and that has been called into question. So we are saying… if it's going to change, then we are accountable to the Cook Islands people. Next month, the Cook Islands celebrates its 60th constitution anniversary. Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro was due to attend as the New Zealand government's representative. Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have said they would not attend - a move that has been labelled a snub amidst the break-down in bilateral relations. Peters said Kiro was the appropriate representative from New Zealand. "We're sending the highest person constitutionally in our country to go… this is very fitting."
