Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung says he regrets writing an email with third-hand claims about incumbent Mayor Tory Whanau, but believes the email’s release was an attempt to discredit him and his campaign.
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.
In a video statement on social media Chung said the email was released deliberately to discredit him.
“This attack on me and our Independent Together candidates is designed to undermine our campaign,” he said.
Chung had previously indicated he would be apologising to the mayor in the video.
He had told Morning Report on Friday he wouldn’t object to apologising.
But in his Sunday statement he said, “I regret writing it and I regret sharing it with people whom I thought trustworthy”.
Chung said since the email’s contents had surfaced he had encountered abuse in public.
High-profile donor and philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik had also withdrawn his support for Chung saying he did not support his behaviour.
Chung said the email’s release was a “blatant political attack”.
“I have not and will not conduct personal attacks against other candidates in the selection,” he said. “I will play the ball, not the person.”
“Dirty politics will not be tolerated. I will call it out,” he said.
Tory Whanau said Chung’s campaign was characterised by “unethical and dirty politics”.
“Ray Chung’s recent actions and public statements reflect a significant lack of accountability and a disregard for basic decency,” she said in a statement.
Whanau said the city deserved elected members who upheld the highest standards of respect, honesty, and integrity.
“It is also important to emphasise that this poor behaviour has not occurred in isolation; it has been enabled by some councillors, lobby groups, mayoral candidates, and a few members of the media,” she said.
“I hope they also take this moment to reflect on their respective roles and consider how we can collectively create a respectful environment.
“Those who wish to stand for public office, particularly women and Māori, deserve this. Our constituents deserve this too.”
Other media report that Whanau released the email.
RNZ has sought clarification from the Mayor’s office about who gave the email to the New Zealand Herald, which first reported the story.
rnz.co.nz
