22 January 2024
Official Information Request No. 8140012932
(Please quote this in any correspondence)
George Morrison
By email –
[FYI request #24998 email]
Tēnā koe George
Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
Re: Maurice Wil iamson recording
I refer to your email, which we received on 2 December 2023, requesting information about
the Auckland Council Planning, Environment and Parks Commit ee meeting of 30 November
2023.
Your specific request and our response are below.
Under the OIA please provide me with the ful footage and audio of Cr Wil iamson that
was removed from the recording of the meeting referred to in this story
https:/ i.stuff.co.nz/national/301019145/auckland-council or-criticised-for-vile-comment-
about-wellington-mayor
The council is required by clause 28, schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002 to keep
minutes of its meetings. Although it is not required to make recordings of its meetings
publicly available, the council livestreams its committee meetings and makes copies of its
recordings available online. As your email notes, part of the Planning, Environment and
Parks Commit ee (PEP Commit ee) meeting of 30 November 2023 broadcast via the
livestream is not now available online. This is because this portion of the meeting contained
inappropriate and offensive content and did not relate to the business of the meeting. Your
request for this portion of the meeting is withheld in reliance on the following LGOIMA
sections:
• 7(2)(a) to protect the privacy of individuals and
• 7(2)(f)(ii) to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the protection of
such members, officers, employees, and persons from improper pressure or
harassment.
In making this decision we have considered whether Council’s interest in withholding this
information is outweighed by other considerations, which would render it desirable in the
public interest to make this information available. We acknowledge that there is some public
interest in understanding how the Council manages such incidents, but we consider that this
public interest can be met through the provision of a summary. A summary is provided
below:
Summary of the removed section of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee
(PEP Committee) meeting of 30 November 2023 –
The PEP Committee was in session. Councillor Williamson who was attending the meeting
remotely was heard making an offensive comment about Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau.
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101
The comment is clear on the video recording but was less clear in the meeting room, due to
others speaking and noise coming from the public gallery. It appears that Cr Williamson
made the comment to someone outside the meeting, and he was unaware that his device
was not muted and that he was audible to the meeting. After making the comment, Cr
Wil iamson was placed on mute by the Governance Advisor present at the meeting.
Elected representatives immediately raised concerns about the comment, including a point
of order for a sanction and a referral to the Chief Executive (CE)
There were further points of order made during the meeting. The meeting chair ruled that
Councillor Williamson should withdraw his remarks and apologise. Cr Williamson was not
heard during these exchanges but later heard saying he was not aware his microphone was
on and apologised multiple times for whatever was heard through his audio. He confirmed
he was at an external facility and was managing technology.
There were further exchanges of comments from Council ors, including further calls to
apologise from Cr Fairey and Member Henare.
Cr Hills concluded discussion on the issue by asking elected members to stop exchanges on
the matter and informing them that the matter would be investigated, noting Cr Wil iamson
had apologised but the requests of council ors would result in a review with Chief Executive.
The initial investigation into this matter has concluded.
The decision by Auckland Council to release the information contained in this response was
made by Rose Leonard, Manager Governance Services.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of this response by the Ombudsman.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
If you have any questions please contact me on 09 301 0101, quoting Of icial Information
Request No. 8140012932.
Ngā mihi
Sarah Parry-Crooke
Senior Privacy & Official Information Business Partner
Governance Services
Private Bag 92300, Auckland 1142 | aucklandcouncil.govt.nz | Ph 09 301 0101
