When Barry Williams started his submission this morning at a Dunedin City Council hearing, the councillors - Steve Walker, Marie Laufiso and Christine Garey - got up and left.
Mr Williams was speaking on behalf of the Strath Taieri Community Board about the council's 2025-34 long-term plan.
Cr Walker said he left the hearing because he had zero tolerance for racism.
"Given Mr. Williams’ racist outburst toward a local pub worker a couple of years ago, I could not in good conscience remain in the same room and listen to him," Cr Walker said.
"That said, if our code of conduct had the strength and enforceability to hold openly racist elected members more accountable, I wouldn’t have felt the need to take personal action."
The councillors returned to the table after Mr Williams had finished.
Mr Williams said afterwards councillors going back and forth was "bloody ridiculous".
He also noted Cr Lee Vandervis arrived late.
Mr Williams was censured after he insulted a member of the public.
The council invited Mr Williams to consider resigning as board chairman.
He apologised to his victim, and to the public, but did not resign.
Walker tossed out of meeting
A Dunedin councillor has been ejected from a city council hearing.
Cr Steve Walker had to leave the Dunedin City Council table after he declined to withdraw a statement he had made about cycling, challenging commentary from Cr Lee Vandervis.
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich is chairing the council's 2025-34 long-term plan hearing and he asked Cr Walker to leave.
The mayor had ruled against Cr Walker on a point of order.
Cr Vandervis had said data did not show an increase in cycling numbers.
Cr Walker said this had been debunked.
Cr Walker said he was stating a fact and he would not withdraw it.
He returned to the table after the lunch break.
