Dunedin Councillor Benedict Ong Faces Resignation Call After Conduct Breach

Dunedin City Councillor Benedict Ong is facing calls to resign after an independent investigation found he seriously breached the city council’s code of conduct. The breach stemmed from criticism of a council staff member contained in an email sent last month to the council’s chief executive and two local journalists.

The Dunedin City Council endorsed the investigation’s findings this morning and agreed to sanction Councillor Ong. Mayor Sophie Barker directly requested his resignation, a motion supported by a significant majority of her colleagues, according to reporting by RNZ .

During a council meeting, Ong described the proceedings as “my trial,” and responded by reading an excerpt from Franz Kafka’s novel, The Trial, a work centering on a man accused of a crime he does not believe he committed. He has stated he has no plans to resign, as reported by RNZ.

The call for Ong’s resignation comes amidst a period of political transition in Dunedin. Last year’s mayoral election saw incumbent Jules Radich unseated by Councillor Sophie Barker, marking the first time a major city mayor in New Zealand has lost their bid for a second term. The election was characterized by a high voter turnout and a significant number of candidates vying for both mayoral and council positions, signaling a “real mood for change” in the city, according to challenger Andrew Simms, who was also elected to the council .

The independent investigation into Ong’s conduct has not been publicly released and the specific details of the sanction agreed upon by the council have not been disclosed. The council has not indicated what steps it will take if Ong refuses to comply with the request for his resignation.