By BERNARD ORSMAN
An Auckland City Council worker has been accused of sexual impropriety and of bribing officials with prostitutes on Great Barrier Island.
Act MP Owen Jennings made the sensational allegations yesterday under the protection of parliamentary privilege as he stepped up calls for a parliamentary inquiry into goings-on at the council.
Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher was furious with Mr Jennings for making his "appalling allegations" without first talking to her or the council.
"While we want to respond to these very serious allegations, it's hard to do so and I can't help wondering what Mr Jennings' agenda is if he doesn't bring them to the council."
In papers tabled in Parliament, Mr Jennings outlined in very general terms six separate allegations of sexual misconduct against the council worker.
The man, who could not be reached for comment last night, is alleged to have offered inducements to different women for sexual favours, bribed officials with prostitutes and acted in a predatory way towards women.
The husband of one of the women said last night that an incident had taken place "but she didn't play ball."
The allegations were included in a file outlining 165 cases of "abuse of power" on Great Barrier Island and 49 on Waiheke, which was tabled in Parliament.
As well as sexual impropriety, the file alleges an official cover-up of an assault and harassment and intimidation by council officers towards ratepayers, and claims that files on serious pollution problems have gone missing.
Mr Jennings told Parliament that the allegations were just that, allegations, "but they are extremely serious in nature" and deserved proper attention.
He called for a credible and independent parliamentary inquiry so those affected could tell their stories in a safe environment.
Later, Mr Jennings told the Herald that he was gathering more evidence on all of the complaints, and would give Parliament more information.
The Auckland City councillor representing Hauraki Gulf islands, Faye Storer, said she was surprised by Mr Jennings' allegations.
"If there were widespread problems on the islands, I would expect to know about it and be dealing with it."
Mrs Fletcher, deputy mayor Bruce Hucker and council chief executive Bryan Taylor are going to Waiheke Island tonight and Great Barrier next week to hear any complaints locals want to air.
Meanwhile, the council plans to give ratepayer Adrian Chisholm a copy of the private investigator's report it commissioned on him.
Mr Chisholm, in a legal battle with the council over plans he had for a resort on Waiheke, has sought a copy under the Privacy Act.
MP accuses council man of sex wrongs
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