Wanganui district councillor Michael Laws has taken a three-month leave of absence from council duties.
Mr Laws confirmed last night he had asked Mayor Annette Main for a leave of absence and that had been granted.
Mr Laws told the Chronicle he had a short-term employment contract and the three-month period would cover that.
But he would not say what the contract involved or where he would be working.
"But, contrary to current rumours, I am not shifting to Dunedin," he said.
He had asked for leave "as a matter of courtesy".
"I will be out of the city for some periods, and leave of absence means if I miss any council meetings I don't have to put in an apology," Mr Laws said.
"But I am not moving from Wanganui."