Latest news with #dirtypolitics
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
How friendly fire torpedoed a mayoral campaign
Ray Chung sent the email with nasty allegations about Whanau in it to three fellow Wellington councillors, but never asked her about the story or verified the gossip with the original source. Photo: Supplied It was shaping up to be a rather dull, straight-forward mayoral race. Current Wellington mayor Tory Whanau had quietly opted not to re-stand, without fuss, making room for a new frontrunner in former Labour minister Andrew Little. The focus was on rate rises, the golden mile, bike lanes, and restoring faith in council leadership. It was safe, steady, and, well, a little dry. But now the capital's mayoral contest has morphed into something else entirely - a bare-knuckle political brawl, drenched in scandal and whispers of dirty politics. "It's just sordid and it's just a bit gross and it's very high school," Joel MacManus, the Wellington editor of the left-leaning The Spinoff, tells The Detail. At the centre of the latest firestorm is mayoral candidate Ray Chung, a self-described straight-shooter whose campaign took a serious hit last week when a leaked email he had written surfaced - one that critics say paints a picture of his manipulation, smear tactics, and a political hit job. "I think Chung is an erratic figure. I've described him as Trump without the tactics, Winston Peters without the wit, and Wayne Brown without the brains," says MacManus, who has been watching the unfolding scandal closely and has written opinion pieces on it. When asked if the email scandal could be called dirty politics, MacManus replied: "You certainly can, but if we are talking about the origin of dirty politics in the way we talk about it, that Nicky Hager book, that was a type of politics that had strategy and tactics and underhandedness. This is, you know, a lot clumsier and stupider than that." Chung sent the email with nasty allegations about Whanau in it to three fellow Wellington councillors, but never asked her about the story or verified the gossip with the original source. Whanau says it is not true; she can prove she was elsewhere on the night named; and she's seeking legal action. The email was leaked to her and she handed it over to the media last week to highlight the abuse she and other female politicians endure. The mayoralty race was now spiced up, front-page news. "Well, the bizarre thing is, it's simultaneously the most boring campaign and the most chaotic one," says MacManus. "Andrew Little could very easily walk this in without proposing anything particularly controversial, without any particularly notable policies, so, in one way it's dull, and yet in another way, it's going to be fascinating because I think there's going to be a lot more rocky stuff to happen, I think there's going to be a lot more interesting chaos and scandals along the way. "I think it is going to be a fun one to watch, even if the outcome is fairly predictable." The email cost Chung an important backer, with rich-list philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik officially withdrawing his support for the mayoral candidate. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has also waded into the scandal, condemning Chung's comments. "That was unacceptable content in that email, really pretty vile and unacceptable stuff," Luxon said. Chung has since apologised to Whanau in an email. In a video released to social media, he admitted he had regrets, but he also claimed to now be a victim in the scandal. But MacManus expects more "dirty politics" in the coming weeks. "I am absolutely expecting more to come out.... just because I think there is a very strong chance that Ray Chung, just knowing who he is as a person and a candidate, will continue to do things like this." Now, as the campaign heats up, the stakes could not be higher. Wellington is not just choosing a mayor. It is choosing what kind of city it wants to be - principled or pragmatic, progressive or proven, forgiving or fed-up. 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
11-07-2025
- 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.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ramanan calls out ‘dirty tactics' using misleading viral video
PKR vice-president R Ramanan criticised certain quarters for using dirty tactics by making slanderous claims about the party elections. (Bernama pic) SHAH ALAM : PKR vice-president contender R Ramanan, who is seeking re-election, has clarified that the person he was seen giving money to in a viral video was actually an employee of his. Ramanan, who is also the Sungai Buloh MP, said the incident took place after the Selangor state election in 2023 and criticised the circulation of the video now as a dirty political tactic by certain parties. The deputy entrepreneur and cooperative development minister also did not dismiss the possibility of more dirty tactics being employed by the opposition ahead of PKR's central leadership election next Friday. 'That's my own employee — what's wrong with that?' he said at a press conference after launching an entrepreneurship seminar organised by the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun). 'It's really disgraceful if we stoop to dirty politics like this. This is slander. 'There's a party election happening now, so things like this (the video) will be twisted and manipulated,' he said. Over the past few days, a video clip has been circulated widely showing Ramanan handing over cash to an individual in front of a Pakatan Harapan office, implying it was for vote buying.
