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A senior Dunedin city councillor has urged his colleagues to stop behaving like squabbling children.

Cr Chris Staynes reacted to the latest dispute around points of order with exasperation, asking councillors to adhere to a better standard of conduct.

Councillors have been debating what should be included in the council’s 10-year plan and discussion yesterday was generally civil and in good humour, but occasionally punctuated by intemperate outbursts.

Cr Lee Vandervis had to apologise after saying Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins’ lack of business experience was blatantly obvious.

Cr David Benson-Pope called Cr Vandervis’ comment a ‘‘crass piece of boorish abuse’’.

That led to Cr Jules Radich objecting to Cr Benson-Pope’s language, which was a complaint Mr Hawkins upheld.

However, in an off-mic exchange, Cr Vandervis commented Cr Benson-Pope seemed happy to withdraw the word crass, but not boorish, and Cr Staynes then chipped in to remind councillors of the business at hand.

Deputy mayor Christine Garey upheld the point of order against Cr Vandervis, because his comment about the mayor was disrespectful, and Cr Vandervis then objected to the mayor interrupting his apology.

The afternoon exchange followed an outburst in the morning from Cr Jim O’Malley, who called Cr Vandervis one of the most negative people he knew.

Cr Vandervis raised a point of order, citing a clause about respect. Mr Hawkins did not uphold his complaint.

Cr O’Malley volunteered an apology for losing control.

Cr Vandervis said the mayor, the meeting’s chairman, was not doing his job.

Cr Benson-Pope raised a point of order about the reaction from Cr Vandervis.

Cr Garey, in the chair because content affected the mayor, did not uphold Cr Benson-Pope’s complaint.

Tensions boiled over on Tuesday in talks about parking when Cr Benson-Pope said Cr Vandervis was not telling the truth.

Cr Vandervis raised a point of order, but Mr Hawkins did not uphold it and Cr Vandervis walked out of the meeting.

Discussions about the 10-year plan continue today.

grant.miller@odt.co.nz