South Waikato mayor faces code of conduct complaint

Tuesday, 30 July 2024

South Waikato mayor Gary Petley is facing a code of conduct complaint relating to his removal of a ratepayer during a heated long-term plan hearing.

But the councillor who made the alleged complaint said she only wanted her displeasure at the mayor’s actions to be formally noted and did not ask for a code of conduct complaint to be officially lodged.

The complaint stems from a heated exchange between Petley and Putāruru man Zed Latinovic who was stopped from speaking during his long-term plan submission because Petley felt Latinovic’s personal attacks against council staff were out of order.

During the meeting, Latinovic told Petley that as a ratepayer whose money helped pay councillors salaries that “I have every right … to say what I think … and you have every obligation to listen to what I have to say”.

Latinovic went on to bring council chief executive Susan Law’s former employment history into question and it was at this point that Petley told Latinovic he was “done with you” and told him to leave.

Petley had said the council “were not here to listen to personal attacks” and repeatedly warned Latinovic he would cut him off if he continued.

As Latinovic left, he said to Petley, “I’m going to be running a petition to remove you from office,” to which Petley replied “good luck on that”.

Petley said a code of conduct investigation was underway, interviews had been conducted, and the report will be presented at a council meeting on Wednesday.

“The expectation is we will make it fully public, as much as we are able,” Petley said.

He said the complaint was lodged by Putāruru ward councillor Marie Farrell, who had since decided an investigation was not warranted.

“She wanted it noted that she was unhappy with my behaviour, but has not withdrawn the complaint. She said she did not want to waste the council’s time and money.

“But, the investigation was already underway and we are now waiting on the result.”

Petley said the council had to take legal advice, which would cost ratepayers money.

Farrell said she was “baffled at the escalation in events” after sending an email requesting the mayor “note my formal complaint about the treatment of Zed Latinovic during the long-term plan hearings”.

“From my perspective I did not initiate a code of conduct against the mayor.”

She said her initial email “was not a request for further action, or a request for an external investigation” and she only wanted her complaint noted and that no further action was required.

Farrell said she had not taken part in the complaint process and felt the investigation was a poor use of council resources.

She said she felt the mayor’s actions against Latinovic were an attack on his right to free speech.

“The decision to censor his presentation goes against the pledge we made as a council to genuinely consult and listen to our community views on the long-term plan.

“I consider the way he was treated to be a violation of his right to exercise free speech.

“While I do not necessarily agree with any of his views, I support his ability to respectfully express them.”