Cr Niki Gladding last week disclosed the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) was planning to invoke emergency powers to pump at least 12,000cu m of treated sewage into the river each day, a move prompted by compliance issues at the council’s wastewater treatment plant.
The council’s decision was made in response to concerns wastewater ponding was posing a danger to planes at the nearby Queenstown Airport.
However, Cr Gladding’s public revelation of this confidential information has sparked controversy and raised serious concerns about her conduct.
The situation is compounded by her history of code of conduct violations.
In a previous case, an independent investigation found her in breach after she disclosed confidential information to the media, leading to disciplinary measures, including a 12-month ban from discretionary training and the requirement to work with a mentor.
As the council convenes today, Cr Gladding’s future on the council remains uncertain, with a decision looming on whether her actions warrant further disciplinary action or removal from key responsibilities.
In a statement, Cr Gladding said she did not believe she broke council "code of conduct" rules as she did not accept the information given at the brief was confidential in nature.
"The community voted me in - it pays my wages - and I have responsibilities to the community that are written into the law."
— APL
