Porirua Mayor Condemns Ray Chung's 'Attack' on Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau
Porirua Mayor Condemns Ray Chung's 'Attack' on Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker has strongly criticized Ray Chung, a mayoral candidate, for what she called an 'attack' on Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau. The controversy centers around an email Chung sent to other council members, which has sparked widespread condemnation.
The email, seen by RNZ, included a story Chung was told by his neighbor about the neighbor's son, which he shared with three fellow council members in early 2023. Whanau has not commented directly but issued a statement calling the claims a 'malicious and sexist rumour.'
"What's deeply concerning is that some of the individuals spreading these harmful falsehoods are now standing for election," Whanau said in her statement. "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 added that she was seeking legal advice.
Chung, who has faced months of abusive emails, text messages, and calls, told Morning Report that sending the email might not have been the best idea. He also highlighted the challenges of being a candidate in a highly scrutinized environment.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, who has previously spoken about receiving death threats and online abuse, called Chung's actions "almost slanderous." She emphasized that attacking another mayor's integrity, especially someone with whom he has worked closely, was "absolutely disgraceful." She added that local body politics had never been as dirty as it was now, particularly 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 expressed concern about the increase in misogynistic abuse against female elected representatives and said she would not expect such behavior around her council table.
Victoria University associate professor in politics, Lara Greaves, noted that even without political context, the situation was "quite a gross situation." She pointed out that the spotlight on local government has led to more "heat" in politics, especially around issues like Māori wards, rates, and three waters. Greaves said that the focus should be on substantive discussion rather than "dirty politics." She also highlighted the recent $4,500 security allowance for elected members, which she said reflected the growing concerns about threats against local leaders.
Greaves emphasized that it is unacceptable to discuss colleagues in such a manner and that the email was not something people would expect to see in New Zealand politics.
As the debate continues, the incident underscores the challenges faced by public officials and the need for more respectful and constructive political discourse.
