An unsigned email was sent to the Otago Daily Times from an account shared by the mayor and his partner Karen Carter, backing Lee Vandervis who is facing possible censure for comments he made about Māori.
Mr Clark said the email was sent by his partner Ms Carter, who told the ODT it was sent without the mayor’s knowledge.
The email comes as Dunedin City councillors will today decide on what action to take over a code of conduct complaint laid by Cr Marie Laufiso, who alleged Cr Vandervis had shown contempt for the council’s te pae Māori forum, as well as for mana whenua and mātāwaka.
In the letter, Ms Carter backed Cr Vandervis and said Māori were free to embrace their culture, but this did not mean everyone needed to.
"Most people are sick to death of this misconception that we all have to become white Maori [sic].
"For heavens [sic] sake let commonsense [sic] prevail, there are many races who call themselves New Zealanders and there are no restrictions on how they live their lives as long as it’s within the laws of the land.
"Maori [sic] are free to embrace their culture, they can speak Te Reo wherever they like and practice their protocols whenever they want, but this doesn’t mean we all have to."
She asked people to leave Cr Vandervis alone.
"l [sic] have a European background, my ancestors came from a far away place this was 5 generations ago, l [sic] consider myself a kiwi, l [sic] know nothing else, this is my home and l [sic] have every right to be here but this does not mean l [sic] have to embrace the Maori [sic] language or culture."
"Leave the man alone and stop wasting time and money trying to force people to do something they are not comfortable with, move on and concentrate on doing your job you were elected to do, or were you elected?"
Ms Carter said to the ODT yesterday her partner did not know about the letter, but she decided to write it because she was over "political correctness".
"Lots of people are over [it] but they [are] too frightened to stand up and say so, because they got labelled racist, or something worse. So, I just had enough - so I am standing up. They can call me whatever they like - I’m going to stick by my principles.
"I am speaking as an individual, as a New Zealander - nothing to do with the Invercargill City Council, nothing to do with the mayor - it is my own personal opinion as an individual in this country."
Mr Clark has recently faced two code of conduct complaints.
In June, he was censured for his behaviour at a United Fire Brigades’ Association event in March where he allegedly made derogatory comments to the female MC and called volunteer firefighters second class citizens.
Last week, the council had a extraordinary meeting to discuss a complaint laid by Crs Ian Pottinger and Ria Bond following an appearance on New Zealand Today, where Mr Clark repeated the "n-word", insisted host Guy Williams say it, and used a homophobic slur.
