Disquiet from some at GDC scientist’s posts

Gisborne District Council principal scientist Murry Cave has been posting anti-Government sentiment on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. The council has stood by Cave, saying he is instrumental in helping the region respond to weather events.

A top Gisborne scientist has kept the support of the council he represents despite posting vitriol about the Government. 

The posts were made using a social media account which at one point displayed his senior position at the organisation.

Gisborne District Council principal scientist Murry Cave has been instrumental in assessing land and properties following Cyclone Gabrielle, fronting media and dealing with affected parties on the ground.

But he has also drawn the ire of some X (formerly Twitter) users, after posting and commenting in a forthright manner on a range of topics.

The content dates back to at least November 2022 and includes an underlying theme of disdain for the current Government.

It includes allegations the Government is racist, radical, anti-democratic, and home to bullies and corrupt ministers.

Dr Cave also claimed the Mongrel Mob was campaigning for Labour and called for an end to Three Waters, the Tenancy Tribunal, the “ute tax” and a “bloated government”.

“Wish we had John Key now rather than the idiots currently in charge,” a December 29 post read.

Dr Cave also defended being white and male,  labelling Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson “racist” following her comments at a March protest against an anti-transgender activist..

He used the term “abuser” multiple times against people who disagreed with him on different topics.

As recently as last month, Dr Cave had the council’s name and his job title in his Twitter bio, but has since removed both.

Council chief executive Nedine Thatcher Swann said her organisation was aware of Dr Cave’s social media presence on several platforms.

“Dr Cave has not had a chance to go through the comments on his X account to determine which are his and which could potentially belong to person(s) undertaking actions relating to identity theft, as he has been too busy helping others,” she said.

Ms Thatcher Swann said Dr Cave had been “instrumental” in helping the region respond to multiple weather events.

The council did not answer a question about whether it had received a complaint regarding Dr Cave’s social media use earlier in the year, after another X user said they reported him to “the appropriate regional authority”.

On January 9, the user said Dr Cave’s comments were “unbecoming of someone holding his position”, and claimed he would not stop when asked.

Gisborne District Council says its social media policy is under review.

The policy states that staff “must not create any content that is untrue about a person that could damage a person’s character or reputation”. Doing so could result in legal action against the council, it warned.