Tēnā koe,

Thank you for contacting us. Your request has been logged under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

We will respond to your request as soon as possible and in any case no
later than within 20 working days.  

You can also call us freephone 0800 932 463. Please quote Request No.
OIA251764 if you require any further information.

If you would like to notify us about anything further regarding this
matter, you can reply to this email.

Ngā mihi,

Whangarei District Council

 

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Tēnā koe ,

 

I refer to your request of August 13, 2025 for Information about “Code of
Conduct complaints against Councillors and Mayor”. Your request was
referred to council’s Democracy and Assurance Department for consideration
and answers to the following questions:

 

 

o ALL code of conduct complaints raised against sitting councillors or
the mayor and the outcome of such complaints between 2022 and the
present.

Council received a total of 26 Code of conduct Complaints against sitting
Councillors since 2022 to present.

o August 2022 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Murphy
o March 2023 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Halse
o April 2023 – Cr Golightly with a complaint against His Worship the
Mayor
o November 2023 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Golightly
o February 24 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Halse
o March 24 - A member of the public with a complaint against Cr Halse
o May 24 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr Reid
o November 24 – 15 Members of the Public with a complaint against Cr
Olsen
o November 24 – 3 Members of the Public with a complaint against Cr
Ruka
o November 24 – Cr Olsen with a complaint against Cr Ruka

 

o Outcome of complaints:

o August 2022 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Murphy - resolved
o March 2023 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Halse – resolved and dismissed
o April 2023 – Cr Golightly with a complaint against His Worship the
Mayor - withdrawn
o November 2023 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Golightly – In confidence, complaint upheld resulting in public
apology link to meeting minutes here:
 [1]https://pub-wdc.escribemeetings.com/File...
o February 24 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr
Halse - Dismissed
o March 24 - A member of the public with a complaint against Cr Halse
- Dismissed
o May 24 – A member of the public with a complaint against Cr Reid –
In confidence, complaint upheld
o November 24 – 15 Members of the Public with a complaint against Cr
Olsen – Currently unresolved, final processes occurring
o November 24 – 3 Members of the Public with a complaint against Cr
Ruka - Currently unresolved, final processes occurring
o November 24 – Cr Olsen with a complaint against Cr Ruka - Currently
unresolved, final processes occurring

 

o Also, provide details of the nature of the complaint and the outcome.
If the details are 'in confidence', then please confirm the existence
of such a complaint and whether it was upheld.

All complaints made are in relation to an elected member breaching the
expected code of conduct.  Link to Code of Conduct requirements here:
 [2]https://www.wdc.govt.nz/files/assets/pub...

 

I hope this information is some assistance in responding to your request.
If you believe we have not responded appropriately to your request, you
have the right by way of complaint, under section 27(3) of the Act, to
apply to the Ombudsman to seek an investigation and review of the
decision.

 

 

Nga Mihi

Emily

Emily Thompson she/ her ([3]why share pronouns?)

Manager – Democracy and Assurance

Whangarei District Council | Te Iwitahi, 9 Rust Avenue | Private Bag 9023,
Te Mai, Whangārei 0143

P 09 430 4200 |  [4]www.wdc.govt.nz

[5]Whangarei District Council logo

 

 

 

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EXTERNAL: This email originated from outside Whangarei District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

Dear Whangarei District Council,

 

Can you please advise of ALL code of conduct complaints raised against
sitting councillors or the mayor and the outcome of such complaints
between 2022 and the present. In doing so, can you provide details of  the
nature of the complaint and the outcome. If the details are 'in
confidence', then please confirm the existence of such a complaint and
whether it was upheld

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Paul Voigt

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://pub-wdc.escribemeetings.com/File...
2. https://www.wdc.govt.nz/files/assets/pub...
3. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
4. Link to the Whangarei District Council's website.
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/