Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby has been revealed as the author of an election voting guide comprising a short-list of the "strongest" candidates standing for the city council - provoking outrage from a key rival.
Mr Crosby's actions in sending out his list of preferred candidates has come under fire from mayoralchallenger Murray Guy, who said: "I am absolutely appalled ... I can't believe it."
He said it contravened a moral code and he would not be surprised if it breached the Auditor General's guidelines of good electoral practice.
Mr Crosby said the list was sent to three people in his private capacity.
"It does not contravene any code, moral or otherwise. This is a basic issue of freedom of speech."
Mr Crosby said he compiled the list after last Thursday's election meeting in Matua, where several people asked about which candidates had the credentials to make good councillors.
He responded by compiling a list which comprised 15 of the 46 candidates - but does not include Cr Guy and three other councillors elected on the Pick 6 ticket in 2007, and Cr Bill Grainger.
Mr Crosby said he sent the list to three people and it had gone into other people's email networks from there.
"What they chose to do with it after that was their business. I did not distribute it beyond those three."
He had no regrets that he did not make his letter and two emails confidential to the receivers.
Quizzed about the political repercussions of the email, Mr Crosby said he could work with anyone.
Asked whether compiling a list like this should be below the dignity of a mayor, he replied: "Absolutely not.
"People have asked my opinion on a number of things and I am quite entitled to give it.
"This is not about the council. This is an election - there is a difference."
Cr Guy said people usually put boundaries on emails such as this, so there would be no repercussions if it went beyond the intended receivers.
"I am gob-smacked ... the Mayor should not have done this."
