Latest news with #IndependentTogether
1News
2 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
More candidates quit Ray Chung's campaign group
Two more Wellington council candidates running under the Independent Together ticket have left the group following mayoral candidate Ray Chung's email about Tory Whanau. In a press release, the group confirmed that Andrea Compton and Dan Milward had left their organisation to campaign independently of it. It follows fellow candidate Lily Brown's announcement on Wednesday that she would not run with the group either. She said she did not feel aligned with tactics employed by Better Wellington who has helped run Independent Together. The changes meant that the number of candidates that stood under Independent Together had reduced from nine to six. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement Milward said that he was surprised by "recent allegations and the subsequent media coverage storm". He said that at an Independent Together roadshow event on Tuesday his wife was threatened by "agitators". "I knew it was time to take a different approach. "I'm proud of what we have achieved together but this is the right call for me, my family, and my community — it's time to run the 'Dan Milward Campaign'". Independent Together said the media scrutiny on its team had been intense. "The extent of it has been unnerving on our business and community minded candidates. "While the team feels the loss of both Andrea Compton and Dan Milward, we acknowledge the impact this is having on both of their families." ADVERTISEMENT They said that threats and bullying tactics from "the political establishment won't work on Independent Together candidates anymore". Compton said standing independently offered her the best opportunity to connect directly with her community. "This election is about listening, offering practical solutions, and having the courage to stand by what you believe in." Ray Chung sent an email, seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he'd been told by his neighbour about the neighbour's son allegedly having a sexual encounter with the mayor. The email surfaced last week. Whanau rejected the contents of the email and said it was false and contained a "malicious and sexist" rumour. She has since received an apology from Chung.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
More Council Candidates Quit Ray Chung's Independent Together Campaign Group
Two more Wellington council candidates running under the Independent Together ticket have left the group following mayoral candidate Ray Chung's email about Tory Whanau. In a press release, the group confirmed that Andrea Compton and Dan Milward had left their organisation to campaign independently of it. It follows fellow candidate Lily Brown's announcement on Wednesday that she would not run with the group either. She said she did not feel aligned with tactics employed by Better Wellington who has helped run Independent Together. The changes meant that the number of candidates that stood under Independent Together had reduced from nine to six. Independent Together billboards showing Andrea Compton, Dan Milward, and Lily Brown are up around Wellington. In a statement Milward said that he was surprised by "recent allegations and the subsequent media coverage storm". He said that at an Independent Together roadshow event on Tuesday his wife was threatened by "agitators". "I knew it was time to take a different approach. "I'm proud of what we have achieved together but this is the right call for me, my family, and my community - it's time to run the 'Dan Milward Campaign'". Independent Together said the media scrutiny on its team had been intense. "The extent of it has been unnerving on our business and community minded candidates. "While the team feels the loss of both Andrea Compton and Dan Milward, we acknowledge the impact this is having on both of their families." They said that threats and bullying tactics from "the political establishment won't work on Independent Together candidates anymore". Compton said standing independently offered her the best opportunity to connect directly with her community. "This election is about listening, offering practical solutions, and having the courage to stand by what you believe in." Ray Chung sent an email, seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he'd been told by his neighbour about the neighbour's son allegedly having a sexual encounter with the mayor. The email surfaced last week. Whanau rejected the contents of the email and said it was false and contained a "malicious and sexist" rumour. She has since received an apology from Chung.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
More council candidates quit Ray Chung's Independent Together campaign group
Independent Together billboards showing Andrea Compton, Dan Milward, and Lily Brown are up around Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Two more Wellington council candidates running under the Independent Together ticket have left the group following mayoral candidate Ray Chung's email about Tory Whanau. In a press release, the group confirmed that Andrea Compton and Dan Milward had left their organisation to campaign independently of it. It follows fellow candidate Lily Brown's announcement on Wednesday that she would not run with the group either. She said she did not feel aligned with tactics employed by Better Wellington who has helped run Independent Together. The changes meant that the number of candidates that stood under Independent Together had reduced from nine to six. Independent Together billboards showing Andrea Compton, Dan Milward, and Lily Brown are up around Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone In a statement Milward said that he was surprised by "recent allegations and the subsequent media coverage storm". He said that at an Independent Together roadshow event on Tuesday his wife was threatened by "agitators". "I knew it was time to take a different approach. "I'm proud of what we have achieved together but this is the right call for me, my family, and my community - it's time to run the 'Dan Milward Campaign'". Independent Together said the media scrutiny on its team had been intense. "The extent of it has been unnerving on our business and community minded candidates. "While the team feels the loss of both Andrea Compton and Dan Milward, we acknowledge the impact this is having on both of their families." They said that threats and bullying tactics from "the political establishment won't work on Independent Together candidates anymore". Compton said standing independently offered her the best opportunity to connect directly with her community. "This election is about listening, offering practical solutions, and having the courage to stand by what you believe in." Ray Chung sent an email, seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he'd been told by his neighbour about the neighbour's son allegedly having a sexual encounter with the mayor. The email surfaced last week. Whanau rejected the contents of the email and said it was false and contained a "malicious and sexist" rumour. She has since received an apology from Chung. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Political Attacks Only Harden Candidates' Resolve
The pillar policies of the Independent Together ticket are founded on addressing the priority concerns of ratepayers – the high cost of rates, the burgeoning unnecessary services consuming council funds, and the influence of party politics on council decision making. At 14 town hall meetings across the city, we presented our reasoning behind the pillars as well as our strategy for cutting council spending. Experienced political agitators attended two events, culminating in them attempting to shout down our message and intimidate supporters during our finale at The Grand in Courtenay Place. The political machinations at play have an enormous psychological impact for all of the candidates. The accompanying media coverage and the scrutiny on the team has been intense. As one very experienced media commentator has already stated, he has never seen such prolonged and vicious media attacks used in the lead up to local body elections before. The extent of it has been unnerving on our business and community minded candidates. While the team feels the loss of both Andrea Compton and Dan Milward, we acknowledge the impact this is having on both of their families. Politics is extremely challenging for the inexperienced. Dan Milward says: 'Like many others, I was surprised by the recent allegations and the subsequent media coverage storm. Finally, when my wife was threatened by the agitators at our final roadshow event in Wellington CBD on Tuesday night, I knew it was time to take a different approach.' Threats and bullying tactics by the political establishment won't work on Independent Together candidates anymore. We are stronger and even more focused. We remain committed to delivering on our five key pillars for the betterment of Wellington and getting enough independent people around the council table to deliver for residents. We will put Wellingtonians first, and with Ray Chung for Mayor, can cauterise the financial bleeding.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Ray Chung vile email scandal: Two more Independent Together candidates quit
At 9:05pm last night, Northern Takapu ward candidate Andrea Compton said in a statement she too was ending her association with the group. Within the hour Pukehīnau Lambton ward candidate Dan Milward also quit the group. 'Like many others, I was surprised by the recent allegations and the subsequent media coverage storm' he said. 'When my wife was threatened by the agitators at our final roadshow event in Wellington CBD on Tuesday night, I knew it was time to take a different approach.' Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung at a rally. Photo / Mark Mitchell Videos posted to social media have seen public meetings held by the group descend into chaos with hecklers and event organisers clashing. When contacted for comment, Chung said he 'didn't know' about the departures. He was at the Local Government New Zealand conference on Thursday and said he hadn't communicated with anyone all day. In a statement, an Independent Together spokesman blamed the media scrutiny over the email scandal - rather than the lewd email itself - for the departures. 'The political machinations at play have an enormous psychological impact for all of the candidates', the statement said. 'The accompanying media coverage and the scrutiny on the team has been intense.' They are not the first to leave the group. Engineering firm director Phil McConchie, Cuba Barbers owner Mike Petrie, and Melissa Moore had all disappeared from the group's website before Chung's official campaign launch in June. Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung at his campaign launch. Photo / Ethan Manera. Chung said at the time that they each left after the group was launched in April, as they struggled to manage the commitments needed to run for council with their own professional demands. Chung said he was 'not fussed' by the departures and didn't think it was a bad look for Independent Together. He said he was glad they left before they had officially declared their candidacy with the council. Tory Whanau said Chung emailed her an apology on Monday, the same day Prime Minister Christopher Luxon slammed Chung's comments. 'That was unacceptable content in that email, really pretty vile and unacceptable stuff', Luxon said when asked about it at his post-Cabinet press conference. The email's existence has also cost Chung an important backer, with rich-list philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik officially withdrawing his support for the mayoral candidate. Chung has called the situation a 'blatant political attack' and a 'smear campaign'. Six candidates, including Chung, remain on the Independent Together ticket for the upcoming Wellington City Council election. Ethan Manera is a New Zealand Herald journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 as a broadcast journalist with Newstalk ZB and is interested in local issues, politics, and property in the capital. Ethan can be emailed at
