Councillor Ray Chung has resigned as chair of the CCO Review and Appointments Subcommittee. Photo / Mark Mitchell.
Councillor Ray Chung has resigned as chair of the CCO Review and Appointments Subcommittee. Photo / Mark Mitchell.
Wellington City councillor Ray Chung has resigned as chair of a council subcommittee.
Mayor Andrew Little’s office said this evening Chung had stepped down from the Council Controlled Organisations Review and Appointments Subcommittee.
“I have decided to stand down from this subcommittee to focus my attention on constituentswithin my ward,” Chung, who represents the Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward, said.
Little said he had accepted Chung’s resignation and expected to appoint a replacement chair shortly.
The resignation comes three weeks after Little said he was considering what steps, if any, to take after being contacted by a senior police officer about Chung’s conduct during Wellington’s severe weather state of emergency last month.
Little previously said he was contacted by Wellington City area commander Inspector Dean Silvester.
The Herald understands the resignation relates to Chung’s actions around the search for missing Karori man Philip Sutton. Sutton’s body was later found at the mouth of Karori Stream.
Neither Little nor police have publicly detailed the conduct referred to.
“If I get notified by a senior police officer of the conduct of a councillor, I’ve got to take that seriously.
“I am and I’m in the process of considering what steps, if any, are taken,” the mayor said three weeks ago.
Little earlier revealed he was contacted by Inspector Dean Silvester, about Chung. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Post previously reported Chung said he went to the scene after volunteers turned up to help search, spoke to the officer in charge and asked the volunteers to stand down. Chung also confirmed he was wearing a council-branded hi-vis jacket.
According to The Post, Little said he did not believe Chung’s version of events, but would not detail the account he had received from police because the response may need to be “formalised”.
The Herald understands Chung’s interactions with the officer in charge and his attendance at the search location formed part of the concerns raised with the mayor.
Little declined an interview request about the resignation, with a spokesperson saying he had nothing further to add.
Chung has been contacted for comment, including on whether his resignation was linked to his conduct during the search.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.
