Councillor apologises for F-bombs at meeting

Bill Christian. Photo / Supplied

A veteran councillor has apologised for foul-mouthed outbursts at two members of the public and a fellow official during a meeting.

Bill Christian has been investigated by Auckland City Council chief executive David Rankin after the incidents at a meeting of the arts and recreation committee.

The comments followed a debate on February 3 about the future of Monte Cecilia School.

Anne Nicholson from the school's board said the trouble began when she reminded Christian of his failure to keep a promise to support the school.

"He just turned to me, raised his arms and said 'f*** off'."

Marcellin College board of trustees chairwoman Daryl Ruebe-Donaldson was also subject to Christian's foul mouth.

In a complaint to Rankin, she said she asked Christian for a meeting about a council proposal to buy Monte Cecilia's school fields.

"His reply was, 'It is nothing to do with you, it is between the council and owners of the land - now f*** off'."

The third complaint was from Mt Roskill Community Board member Sue Mulrennan who said she had to walk past the back of Christian's chair when leaving the meeting.

"As I approached he was wildly gesticulating in the direction of some of the parents of the school. As those I was with neared him he turned and said, 'f*** off, get out now'."

Rankin investigated all three complaints and confirmed Christian made the comments during an adjournment to the meeting.

In his written response, he said Christian's comment "fell short of [the] behaviour expected of an elected representative".

Christian is an independent councillor and not subject to discipline by party hierarchy.

He has sent written apologies to all three complainants but was reluctant to discuss the matter when visited at home yesterday.

He said he was busy watching the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics and would only say: "I didn't tell anyone to f*** off. I only wrote them an apology because they were upset."

Mayor John Banks said he was not at the meeting but had heard what happened.

"My understanding is councillor Christian has not been well in recent times. It's also my understanding he was goaded.

"However, the comments were intemperate and wrong. The apology should go a long way to putting this behind us."

He said he had found Christian hard-working and community-minded.

"He is regarded as a good bloke who has served his community well for a long time."

Deputy mayor David Hay said because the comments were made during an adjournment they couldn't be dealt with by the meeting chairman.

He had spoken to Christian and told him the language was inappropriate.

Hay said he was "scoffed at and jeered" when he spoke at the same meeting.

"But that doesn't give me the right to let fly. As elected members of council we have to put up with it."