Bladder condition forced public urination - candidate

A Timaru District Council candidate has blamed a bladder condition for getting caught short in a Dunedin street and has apologised to the public.

Karen Collings is facing a charge of offensive behaviour for urinating in a gutter outside the Dunedin Casino late last month.

Her case was due to be heard in Dunedin District Court yesterday but was put off until November 5.

"I apologise to the public of New Zealand, and again to the Dunedin police if they feel my behaviour was inappropriate," she told the Timaru Herald yesterday.

"This has been very embarrassing for me and my family."

She explained she and a friend were denied access to the casino because he was intoxicated, so she was not able to use the toilet.

"I'm embarrassed to have to tell people now that I have a serious bladder problem and have since I was four-years-old and I really had no option but to do what I did to avoid wetting myself."

She was wearing a long coat and said none of her body was exposed to the public.

She hoped she still had a chance in the local body election.

- NZPA