Wellington mayor receives flurry of emails over Chung appointment

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

Wellington mayor Andrew Little is being called on to rethink his promotion of Ray Chung to a chairperson position.

New Wellington mayor Andrew Little has hit his first controversy with the appointment of divisive figure Ray Chung to a chairperson position - while overlooking a councillor fresh from heading one of the city’s most-crucial committee.

Canterbury University law senior lecturer Cassandra Mudgway and author “Emily Writes” have launched a template letter urging residents to email Little expressing “immense displeasure” and asking him to reconsider.

Last week, Little revealed which councillors would chair and sit on committees for the first 18 months of the three-year term. The big prizes went to Diane Calvert, Nureddin Abdurahman and Laurie Foon, who each chair a full-council committee, and new deputy mayor Ben McNulty.

Chung – whose failed mayoral campaign was dogged by controversy including links to a conspiracy group, alleged dirty politics and a leaked lewd email about former mayor Tory Whanau – was named chairperson of the subcommittee overseeing council-controlled organisations and board appointments.

Ray Chung’s appointment to a chairperson position has courted controversy.

Rebecca Matthews – insulted by Chung’s backers – was not given a chairperson role. Last term she headed the long-term plan and finance committee, which oversaw a 10-year budget derailment and re-write. She was also deputy chairperson of the environment and infrastructure committee, which rewrote the city’s district plan.

By Monday morning Little had received 191 of the templated emails.

The emails said: “That you knew that Ray Chung shared sexual and salacious gossip about a woman he worked with and still believed he should be in control of recommending appointments to boards shows abysmal judgement.”

“It’s a slap in the face to all of those who tried to get justice for the mayor and wahine Māori going into politics.”

Writes said many women who had experienced sexual harassment, racism or misogyny in the workplace had been in touch. “Many voted for Andrew Little and feel betrayed,“ she said.

Little said he stood by the judgment he had made on appointments and it was his duty to work with all elected councillors.

Councillor Rebecca Matthews was not given a chairperson role. “That is politics,” she says.

“The policy I campaigned for the mayoralty on was that every councillor would have a meaningful role to contribute to, and that is what I have done.

“I have been clear throughout my campaign and since the election that I condemn misogynistic abuse. Under my mayoralty it will not be tolerated.”

Chung said he was aware of “some activity” and had passed it on to Little.

“I am proud to have been appointed to the CCO Committee and I will fulfil my duties to the best of my ability and in the best interests of Wellington city,” he said.

Whanau, on social media over the weekend, highlighted that Matthews “didn’t get a chair role. Ray did”.

She on Monday said assigning roles based on loyalty rather than performance was risky.

“I learned that the hard way when I elevated a councillor who later became a source of public misinformation and disruption.

“Strong leadership will be essential for managing certain personalities, and I trust the mayor to act decisively when needed.”

Matthews would not comment on Chung’s appointment to a chairperson role nor her lack of one, other than saying, “that is politics”.

“I stood for council to contribute and I really want to do that based on the experience I have,” she said, when asked whether she asked for a chairperson position.

Tony Randle, the only other returning councillor not to get a chairperson position, confirmed he did not ask for one and was satisfied with what he got.