'Old farts' comment offends elderly

Cr Fliss Butcher. Photo / Otago Daily Times

One Dunedin city councillor has apologised, but another is refusing to, after self-deprecating comments by both about their ages were condemned by Age Concern Otago yesterday.

Crs Fliss Butcher and Richard Thomson found themselves in the firing line yesterday after making the seemingly innocuous comments during Monday's full council meeting.

Cr Thomson referred to "us old fellahs", and Cr Butcher to "old farts'', at different parts of the meeting.

The comments came as both tried to make points about the merits of more contact between the council and the city's younger generations, when discussing possible ways to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the city's founding.

However, they were interpreted by some yesterday as attacks on the city's elderly.

One member of the public contacted Mayor Dave Cull's office yesterday morning, demanding a public apology from Cr Butcher.

Later in the day, Age Concern Otago chief executive Susan Davidson condemned both comments in a strongly worded email to the Otago Daily Times.

Cr Butcher's choice of words was "ageist", while Cr Thomson's was "also unfortunate", and both needed to do better, Ms Davidson believed.

Cr Butcher first contacted the ODT yesterday morning to reveal the complaint from the member of the public, and to say she was "quite happy" to apologise.

"I apologise if I have upset people - I was referring to myself," she said.

Cr Thomson said the concerns were "a storm in a teacup" and he had no intention of apologising.

"For goodness sake, I can refer to myself however I want ... especially when using it in a relatively lighthearted and self-deprecating manner.

"I don't think an apology is appropriate or warranted."