Wellington councillor Ray Chung ‘made a nuisance of himself’ during search for missing man
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Wellington’s police commander complained about councillor Ray Chung’s behaviour during the unsanctioned search for a missing man in April’s floods, saying he spread misinformation and had inappropriate contact with emergency services and the man’s family, documents reveal.
Mayor Andrew Little removed Chung as the chairperson of the Council Controlled Organisations Review and Appointments Subcommittee, after concluding his account of events “to be shifting, evasive and fundamentally contradictory”.
The missing man, Philip Sutton, who had been looking after a property on South Karori Rd for his sister, was later found dead.
The 68 pages of information surrounding Chung’s actions on the day of the April floods and subsequent developments, released by the Wellington City Council on Thursday under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA), show Chung went out to search for Sutton, even after senior council officials explicitly told him to stay away.
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Chung said he had not seen the released information, but Little had no documented proof of him being shifty and evasive.
At noon of April 21, Chung emailed the chairperson of the council’s crisis management team, Liam Hodgetts, his chief advisor Moana Mackey and Little, saying “relatives of Phillip’s” – that turned out to be a family friend – contacted him, “distraught” because the police told them they called off the search until the day after.
Two hours later, Chung followed up to say he spoke to the police sergeant in charge of searching for Sutton, and he was “heading out there now and will ensure, or try to stop anyone going into the water”.
“I wouldn’t recommend that. Best to stay inside,” Hodgetts replied five minutes later.
At 5.43pm, Wellington City police commander Inspector Dean Silvester texted Little, asking for a discussion about Chung. “I’ve been advised that councillor Chung had made a nuisance of himself in relation to the search-and-rescue efforts in Karori. This has included the spreading of misinformation and inappropriate contact with emergency services and the missing person’s family.”
A three-minute phone call followed. Chung never made clear his role when talking to a police sergeant, was told not to head to Sutton’s address and it became clear he never contacted Sutton’s family, according to a readout of the call, and Silvester was concerned about how Chung got the officer’s confidential phone number.
Little called Chung at 6.32pm, telling him about the police’s complaint. He considered the matter to be very serious and summoned Chung to meet with him and deputy mayor Ben McNulty the following morning.
In the meeting, Little asked Chung about his actions the day before. He found Chung’s account ”to be shifting, evasive and fundamentally contradictory” and did not believe what Chung said.
Little proposed sacking Chung as a subcommittee chairperson on April 29, saying he had lost trust and confidence after considering Chung’s actions in the context of previous mishaps, including leaking a private media training session to controversial blogger Graham Bloxham and filing an incorrect pecuniary interest return.
Chung engaged lawyers, who told Little they were concerned that his decision was based on “contended verbal and written advice from a police officer”.
Little believed the issue concluded once Chung stepped down from the subcommittee.
Chung said he asked how the situation started, which was supposedly with a police complaint ‒ which wasn't included in the released information.
“So now, who’s being shifty and evasive?”
Councillor Rebecca Matthews said the release should be cause for self reflection from Chung. “The very lowest bar we could expect from a councillor is they are not an impediment to public safety.”
Canterbury University law senior lecturer Cassandra Mudgway, who made an oral submission against Chung’s appointment as a subcommittee chairperson, said the episode raised “a serious question” about his judgment and fitness for leadership roles.