Dunedin councillor Lee Vandervis censured over Māori representation comments

An outspoken Dunedin councillor has been censured for his comments toward Māori.

Councillor Lee Vandervis was not present at a Dunedin City Council meeting this morning where he was the subject of a code of conduct complaint, but a prepared statement was read on his behalf where he doubled-down on his prior comments.

“I cannot represent Dunedin citizens by singing, pretending to speak a Māori language, or by voting for more race-based funding of Māori elites and jobs,” he wrote.

“I reject all accusations of racism, especially coming from those who repeatedly label me ‘pale, stale, and male’ across the council table as this personal abuse really is racist, ageist, and sexist.

The Dunedin City Council. Photo / Ben Tomsett

“I vow to continue to exercise my right to free speech in the public interest and to be part of the diversity necessary for democratic representation on the Dunedin City Council.”

The code of conduct complaint was lodged by Councillor Marie Laufiso over a number of comments Vandervis made in council meetings and correspondence, including to the director of Dunedin Public Art Gallery and Toitu Otago Settlers Museum over the “inappropriate Māori-fication” of an artwork in the museum.

Her complaint said Vandervis showed contempt for the council’s Te Pae Māori forum, as well as for mana whenua and mātāwaka.

A report by independent investigator Jordan Boyle, of Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law, included an email sent by Vandervis to chief executive Sandy Graham on July 16 , regarding a council meeting in Karitane.

“I am not prepared to submit to the sexist, racist, and tribal ritual requirements that have been spelled out in order for me to be able to enter ‘safely’ on this marae,” Vandervis wrote.

“I am a long-term high-polling elected representative of all the people of Dunedin and I am not prepared to be dictated to in an official council meeting by an elite claiming to represent 0.67% of our voting public as detailed in the ward document.”

The report found Vandervis to have breached the code for statements in the email, by refusing to attend Te Pae Māori meetings, and by referring to mana whenua representatives on two council committees as anti-democratic and race-based representation.

The report also noted Vandervis’ mispronunciation of the word Māori “every time he says it”.

“Cr Laufiso was unsure if this was deliberate or not.”

Boyle’s report said Vandervis did not engage in the investigation process, and told Boyle he had no interest in speaking to him.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Mayor Jules Radich said there was no question that this “very bad behaviour” had been condemned by all councillors at the table, and was “part of a pattern”.

“However, the various punishments that he has received over time have not made one wit of difference and I think that having a pathway to realisation or redemption is a worthwhile exercise.”

A motion to request that Vandervis provide a full and unreserved written apology to the Te Pae membership, and make a commitment to attend Te Pae meetings and observe the protocols of the host, was carried unanimously.

If Vandervis’ apology was not received by August 20, a report by council staff for additional options would be provided to councillors on August 27.

Ben Tomsett is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.