Mayor apologises to councillors

Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has ticked off one apology for upsetting a woman about her ability and appearance but has yet to front on his use of a racist slur.

In June, Mr Clark was found to be in breach of the council’s code of conduct for his behaviour at a March event held by the United Fire Brigades’ Association, which he attended as a guest of honour alongside his partner.

A series of allegations were levelled at Mr Clark, including that he made derogatory comments to the female MC about her appearance and competence, and calling volunteer firefighters second-class citizens.

An investigation report into the mayor’s actions said Mr Clark left the woman so upset, she wished the ground would "open up and swallow her".

On Tuesday, he apologised at a council meeting, but questioned the role the MC — labelled Ms X in the investigation — had at the event.

"I’ve already apologised to the association in relation to the code of conduct . . . and Ms X as well.

"Given that she wasn’t actually the MC of the event, she had nothing to do with the running of it, but I’m not prepared to make an issue of that."

Mr Clark went on to say that he openly apologised for breaching the code of conduct and also for the negative impact he had had on colleagues and on the council’s standing within the community.

"So I hope it puts that issue to rest."

The apology followed a point of order at the beginning of the meeting in which councillor Ian Pottinger said a resolution was made at a previous committee meeting for the mayor to apologise at the next council meeting.

Cr Pottinger stated that was today, and asked if it was going to happen.

The mayor thanked Cr Pottinger for his inquiry, and said he would "decide on that later on".

Almost two hours later, Mr Clark made his statement before the council began its lengthy discussion on museum funding.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting, Cr Pottinger said the apology was hard to hear because Mr Clark "mumbles a wee bit" but it contained everything it needed to.

It was one of two public apologies expected of the mayor.

Following an extraordinary council meeting on Friday, at which it was confirmed Mr Clark breached the code during an appearance on New Zealand Today, a "sincere" public apology was requested by councillors at a full council meeting.

Mr Clark’s behaviour on the show included repeating the "n-word", insisting host Guy Williams say it, and using a homophobic slur.

• LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air