Auckland politician Duncan MacDonald resigns after being censured for 'threatening a member of the public'

Thursday, 11 July 2019

Duncan MacDonald, a member of Auckland's Whau Local Board, has resigned after he was censured amid claims he falsely accusing a business owner of criminal activity and yelled threats at a member of the public.

A local politician has stepped down after claims he falsely accused a business owner of criminal activity and yelled threats at a member of the public.

Auckland Council confirmed Duncan MacDonald, a member of the Whau Local Board, had resigned.

MacDonald was censured by the local board at its business meeting last week after complaints were made by two people in January and March 2019.

The independent conduct review panel, led by barrister Derek Firth, agreed MacDonald had breached Auckland Council's code of conduct in two instances and recommended he be censured.

The first complaint was lodged by an Avondale business owner who alleged MacDonald had used 'offensive language' towards him.

The second complaint alleged MacDonald yelled at a member of the public: 'You better watch yourself, I am sick of all the s… you've been spreading about me on Facebook, this is my final warning, you should look out for me'.

A third complaint was also reviewed by the panel, but was found not to breach the council's code of conduct, as it related to MacDonald's conduct as the chairman of the Avondale Business Association.

MacDonald had been a member of the Whau Local Board since 2010. He is also a justice of the peace and chair of the Avondale Business Association.

MacDonald declined to comment on Thursday and instead directed Stuff to a statement on his Facebook page.

In the Facebook post, MacDonald wrote it was 'with deep regret' that he had tendered his resignation.

'I do not believe that I should have to apologise for any of my actions and I refuse point blankly to apologise. The Whau Local board have chosen to publicly censure me which I also do not accept therefore to me, remaining on the Whau Board is untenable.'

MacDonald was critical of how the independent review panel handled the second complaint.

'The panel seem to have forgotten that we are only part time politicians and in reality are only representing our local community for the good of our community,' he said in the statement.

'No one in their right mind would stand for election if they were told what to expect in the way of abuse by disgruntled ratepayers and these people out to get you just for the fun of it. These people won't abuse you to your face and I believe we should not have to put up with personal abuse from these trollers.'

Stuff has contacted the chair of the Whau Local Board, Tracy Mulholland, for comment.

In a statement released on Thursday, Auckland Council chief executive Stephen Town thanked MacDonald for his 'years of service to the community'.

The board would not be required to fill MacDonald's seat before the upcoming local elections in October, Town said.