Mayor says 'Fat b****' online complaint 'creating drama and distraction'

Auckland’s mayor says complaining on social media is a distraction, as an investigation is being demanded after a councillor alleged she was called a “f****** fat b****” during a meeting. 

Long-time councillor Christine Fletcher posted on Facebook that an offensive comment directed at her was muttered during a recent council meeting. 

She did not name the individual she accused of making the remark, and would not elaborate when contacted by the Herald. 

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance says whoever made the remark should be identified and censured, arguing the alleged conduct undermines local democracy. 

Auckland leaders say the matter is one for council to resolve and they can not intervene. 

The alliance is calling for an immediate investigation into the person behind the name-calling, saying “such conduct has a chilling effect on political debate and local democracy”. 

“The elected member who abused Councillor Fletcher should be held accountable and censured by the Governing Body,” Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman Josh Van Veen said. 

“Such serious allegations cannot be allowed to fester.” 

Mayor Wayne Brown said the allegations had not been raised with him, but his door was “always open”. 

“Complaining on social media just creates drama that distracts from the good work we do,” he said, following Fletcher’s lengthy Facebook post. 

Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson said he would be “very willing” to assist in an investigation, but ultimately, he was an employee of the councillors. 

“Fundamentally the political culture is for our elected members to address.” 

Minister for Auckland Simon Watts called any bullying, intimidation, and unprofessional behaviour “unacceptable”, but also said he could not step in. 

“This is a matter best addressed by the Mayor and Chief Executive. 

“Aucklanders expect their local government to be a workplace where elected members are treated with respect and can focus on delivering results for the communities they represent.” 

Fletcher, the Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa Ward councillor, wrote that “bullying and name calling normally associated with a school playground” were rife, and suggested consideration should be given to bringing in a Government observer. 

“After a career in the front line of politics, I have a relatively thick skin, but I have experienced nothing like the invective I have endured during this council term,” she wrote. 

“I wonder how others would respond if, when speaking at a council debate, an elected member can be heard muttering ‘f.....g b...h’ and even recently ‘f.....g fat b...ch’. 

Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa Ward councillor Christine Fletcher claims “bullying and name calling normally associated with a school playground” is rife at council. Photo / NZME 

Her comments followed Bo Burns voicing similar concerns, with the Howick Ward councillor rebuking her colleagues in a social media post last month. 

Burns claimed she had walked out of several meetings after unacceptable behaviour by her colleagues, alleging a toxic culture at the council involving bullying, intimidation, hostility and fear. 

Fletcher wrote that good democracy required robust debate, “but it also requires the right framework and leadership to ensure this occurs respectfully, without the need for personal threats or abuse”. 

“When one of my colleagues reflected on their experience recently, I saw some in the media suggest they should not have chosen politics, commenting along the lines of, ‘If you can’t take the heat then get out of the kitchen’.” 

Howick Ward councillor Bo Burns recently criticised the culture at Auckland Council. 

Fletcher said she was with friends recently discussing an upcoming surgical procedure. 

“I joked about which could be more unpleasant, having my elbow restructured or facing another torrent of abuse designed to distract me from representing the people of my electorate. 

“When armchair warriors talk about toughening up, I suggest they consider stepping up to the plate, and see how they would deal with this sort [of] behaviour and foul language that some, though I stress not all, seem happy to use.”