Board distances itself from director's Len Brown comments

Auckland Mayor Len Brown. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Home and Family Counselling board has distanced itself from comments made by its executive director supporting Auckland Mayor Len Brown as honorary president of the organisation.

The honorary role has been filled by an Auckland mayor for the past 120 years, and executive director Mary Gray yesterday told the Herald the board had discussed Mr Brown's sex scandal and wanted to keep him in his role.

"From both the point of view of history and the point of view of the type of agency that we are, as a counselling agency we see many families in distress and couples in terms of relationships that have gone wrong in some ways and people are seeking to rebuild them.

"One of the factors that one always must bring as a counsellor and counselling agency is the quality of compassion and forgiveness, and they are the qualities that we see may be needed in this situation."

Mrs Gray said Mr Brown's position was as a figurehead, and his only engagement this year had been speaking at an event earlier in the year celebrating the service's 120th anniversary.

However, a statement issued by the organisation this morning said Mrs Gray's comments were not endorsed by the board and were incorrect.

"The board takes recent events extremely seriously and accordingly is taking advice."

Until the board had time to gather and receive that advice, no further public statement would be issued, the statement said.

"In the interim, Home and Family Counselling will continue to focus on its core responsibility, which is to the people of Auckland."

The community-based counselling service caters for individuals, couples and groups seeking help for trauma, anxiety, abuse, relationship difficulties, grief and addiction.

It operates from three offices in Mt Eden, Northcote and the Hibiscus Coast.

Last week Mr Brown admitted a two-year extra-marital affair with local board candidate Bevan Chuang, 32.