Latest news with #RayChung
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Mayor slams councillor's 'attack' on Tory Whanau
By Nick James and Ellen O'Dwyer of RNZ Porirua's mayor says an "attack" on Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau by mayoral hopeful Ray Chung is disgraceful and not the type of behaviour expected of a councillor. Chung sent an email, seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he had been told about Whanau by his neighbour about the neighbour's son. Whanau has declined to be interviewed, but in a statement said the claims were a "malicious and sexist rumour". "What's deeply concerning is that some of the individuals spreading these harmful falsehoods are now standing for election," she said. "Ray Chung has circulated a malicious and sexist rumour - a tactic designed to dehumanise, wear people down, and discourage good people from standing for public office." She said she was seeking legal advice. Ray Chung told Morning Report in hindsight sending the email might not have been the best idea. Chung said he had experienced abusive emails, text messages and calls for the last six months. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker has made public comments in the past about her experience of having received death threats and abuse online. Baker told RNZ that Ray Chung's actions were almost slanderous. "You don't attack someone's integrity, especially another mayor or a councillor and someone you work with closely over three years, I think it is absolutely disgraceful. "Whether it's true or not has nothing to do with it." She said that local body politics had never been as dirty as it was now -- especially online. "I've taken myself off social media and I do post but I don't read anything, it's become so vile." Baker said she would not expect behaviour like that demonstrated by Ray Chung around her council table. She believed that there was an increase in misogynistic abuse against female elected representatives. Victoria University associate professor in politics Lara Greaves told RNZ even just taking the politics out of the actions it was quite a gross situation. "I think if any of us think if we are in our work environment if such an email was sent about us how we would feel or feel about that going on for a woman in their life." Greaves said she thought there was more "heat" in local politics with topics such as the Māori wards, rates and three waters. She said that the spotlight was now being put on local government but through "dirty politics" rather than substantive discussion on issues. Last month Local Government New Zealand announced that it would provide a $4500 allowance for the home security of elected members following the upcoming 2025 elections. Anecdotal reports of abuse and the fact the security allowance had been established showed that it was a problem for mayors and councillors, Greaves said. She said that there was a high level of threat for local government while not seeing the same investment. Greaves said that fundamentally people should not talk about sex and colleagues and that the email was not something people would expect to see in New Zealand politics.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
'Absolutely disgraceful': Porirua Mayor slams Ray Chung's 'attack' on Tory Whanau
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says attacks on her Wellington counterpart are disgraceful. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker Porirua's Mayor says an "attack" on Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau by mayoral hopeful Ray Chung are disgraceful and not the type of behaviour expected of a councillor. Chung sent an email , seen by RNZ, to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he had been told about Whanau by his neighbour about the neighbour's son. Whanau has declined to be interviewed, but in a statement said the claims were a "malicious and sexist rumour". "What's deeply concerning is that some of the individuals spreading these harmful falsehoods are now standing for election," she said. "Ray Chung has circulated a malicious and sexist rumour - a tactic designed to dehumanise, wear people down, and discourage good people from standing for public office." She said she was seeking legal advice. Ray Chung told Morning Report in hindsight sending the email might not have been the best idea . Chung said he had experienced abusive emails, text messages and calls for the last six months. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker has made public comments in the past about her experience of having received death threats and abuse online. Baker told RNZ that Ray Chung's actions were almost slanderous. "You don't attack someone's integrity, especially another mayor or a councillor and someone you work with closely over three years, I think it is absolutely disgraceful. "Whether it's true or not has nothing to do with it." She said that local body politics had never been as dirty as it was now -- especially online. "I've taken myself off social media and I do post but I don't read anything, it's become so vile." Baker said she would not expect behaviour like that demonstrated by Ray Chung around her council table. She believed that there was an increase in misogynistic abuse against female elected representatives. Victoria University associate professor in politics Lara Greaves told RNZ even just taking the politics out of the actions it was quite a gross situation. Dr Lara Greaves. Photo: RNZ "I think if any of us think if we are in our work environment if such an email was sent about us how we would feel or feel about that going on for a woman in their life." Greaves said she thought there was more "heat" in local politics with topics such as the Māori wards, rates and three waters. She said that the spotlight was now being put on local government but through "dirty politics" rather than substantive discussion on issues. Last month Local Government New Zealand announced that it would provide a $4500 allowance for the home security of elected members following the upcoming 2025 elections. Anecdotal reports of abuse and the fact the security allowance had been established showed that it was a problem for mayors and councillors, Greaves said. She said that there was a high level of threat for local government while not seeing the same investment. Greaves said that fundamentally people should not talk about sex and colleagues and that the email was not something people would expect to see in New Zealand politics. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
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." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Ray Chung defends sending gossip about Tory Whanau to other councillors
Photo: Supplied / Facebook Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung says in hindsight sending an email containing third-hand claims about a sexual encounter with mayor Tory Whanau might not have been the best idea. The New Zealand Herald has reported Chung sent an email to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he had been told about Whanau by his neighbour about the neighbour's son. Whanau told NZME the contents of the email were false. RNZ has approached her for comment. Chung told Morning Report he did write the email. He said it was because it was soon after the election and he wanted his colleagues' opinions on what they thought of a relatively unknown 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." Wellington mayor Tory Whanau Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone "I wouldn't object to apologising to [Whanau] but it's actually interesting how it's actually being cast," he said. He claimed the email had been released now for "political purposes". He said the email was sent following a conversation with a neighbour while he was out walking his dog. "I sent it off to my closest colleagues on council and so I said 'what do you think about this?'" Asked about the language used in the email, Chung said he repeated the story "verbatim". "This is exactly what I was told... none of it was my opinion." Chung said he didn't know about an alleged dossier of information against his opponents that The Post reported on earlier this week. Chung, a current city councillor for the Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward, is standing as mayor under the Independent Together banner. Whanau has said she won't stand again for the mayoralty, though she is standing for the council's Māori Ward. She has previously told RNZ about the "ugly" side of politics she has faced. She faced a bumpy time as mayor amid drinking problems and an ADHD diagnosis. RNZ has approached Whanau for comment. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Claims of dirty politics in Wellington Council elections
local council 32 minutes ago On Wednesday The Post reported that a group linked to 'Independent Together' was behind a research 'dossier' on Labour Party candidates. Independent Together Mayoral Candidate Ray Chung spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
