Auckland councillor Bo Burns claims ‘toxic’ culture at council, CEO writes to elected members

An Auckland councillor has launched a stinging rebuke of some of her elected colleagues, unleashing over what she describes as a toxic culture involving bullying, intimidation, hostility and fear.

Howick ward councillor Bo Burns said she has “packed up and walked out” of meetings twice in the past week because of behaviour she considered unacceptable from other members.

“I believe we need to lift the standard of public discourse and challenge the idea that bad behaviour is somehow normal because it happens in politics. It isn’t.

“We should expect better from our leaders, our organisations, our workplaces and ourselves.”

The Herald can also reveal council CEO Phil Wilson has written to councillors to remind them about standards and professional obligations.

It follows a similar letter he sent a year ago because of concerns about the tone and nature of debates.

In a statement yesterday, Wilson told the Herald all elected members had a right to work in an environment “without fear of attack or unreasonable behaviour”.

‘Wearing people down through hostility’

Burns posted a message on social media on Saturday titled “Politics is not an excuse”.

She said politics was about advocacy, challenging assumptions and being able to persuade others through a respectful contest of ideas.

While it was okay to have different opinions, people needed to be respectful and professional, she wrote.

“One of my biggest concerns is that when discussions become emotional, hostile or intimidating, good decision-making suffers.

“Whether someone is angry, upset, crying, feeling attacked, or being bullied, they are no longer operating in an environment that encourages open-minded thinking, respectful consideration of different viewpoints, or sound decision-making.

“Democracy works best when people feel safe to contribute, challenge ideas, ask questions, and even change their minds. It does not work when emotion, fear, intimidation or hostility become tools to influence outcomes.”

She wrote that over the past two weeks she had “personally taken a stand”, walking out of situations where she believed the behaviour and culture was unacceptable.

“I have also made it clear that meaningful steps need to be taken to improve the culture.

“If we continue to normalise poor behaviour and dismiss it as ‘just politics’, we risk driving good people away from public service. We risk discouraging future leaders from stepping forward. And ultimately, we weaken the democratic process itself.

“When people become afraid to speak, afraid to ask questions, or afraid to put forward alternative views because they fear personal attacks, we all lose.”

Burns said she had been told to “harden up”, but she had better things to do than “sitting around listening to anger and petty abuse”.

Politics should be about winning people over to an idea, “not wearing people down through hostility”.

She said council staff were “amazing” and shouldn’t be targeted by this “toxic culture”.

Attempts to reach Burns yesterday to discuss her post were unsuccessful.

Council CEO Phil Wilson responds

Wilson declined to release to the Herald his letter to councillors, saying discussions and correspondence with elected members were in confidence.

He said the role of elected councillors was a tough one, requiring members to represent their communities, take part in robust debates and make difficult decisions.

“For all that they give to democracy in Auckland, they deserve respect – from their peers and from us. They deserve an environment to work in that makes them feel able to do that work without fear of attack or unreasonable behaviour.

“To the extent that I ever need to have conversations with elected members about the tone of discussions, I do so respectfully and in confidence.”

Asked what had been done to ensure behaviour was appropriate since his last letter in August 2025, Wilson said governance training was offered to members after the last election to help build “good working relationships”.

“Most elected members behave respectfully and constructively most of the time and in my experience are all genuinely motivated by what we have to achieve together in terms of outcomes for Auckland.”

Ultimately, elected members were responsible to each other for the tone inside and outside the debating chamber, Wilson said.

“If a complaint is raised via a formal channel, it will be addressed appropriately. Details of complaints remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process and any privacy requirements.”

‘I really don’t like bad language’

Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa ward councillor Christine Fletcher told the Herald the council was in danger of becoming dysfunctional.

“Elected members need to recognise we need to work as a team to achieve the best for Auckland. We need to pull together.”

She said leadership “starts at the top” in terms of setting respectful working relationships.

“I really don’t like bad language. I don’t think in a civic role we need to resort to that.”

Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward councillor Josephine Bartley said toxic and divisive issues playing out on social media were making their way into the council.

“We just need to get on with our jobs because that’s what the public expects of us.”

She said all elected members were “passionate”. Asked how that manifested around the council table, she said: “It manifests in a way that the CEO has to send us a letter.”

Manukau ward councillor Alf Filipaina said the council was a robust environment where people were forthright with their views.

“Sometimes councillors around the table, if they’re pulled up, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, why did you say that?’”

He did not believe the council was toxic and said it was disappointing those views were being aired publicly.

“If there needs to be a discussion then let’s have that discussion instead of putting out their own views.”

None of the councillors approached by the Herald would share the Wilson letter, saying it had been sent in confidence.

The Herald has sought comment from Mayor Wayne Brown, who is currently in Singapore.

Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.

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