Dunedin Councillor Benedict Ong Found Guilty of Third Code Breach
Dunedin City councillor Benedict Ong has been found to have materially breached the council’s code of conduct for a third time in a public and deliberate manner, 1News reported following a closed-door council meeting on Thursday.
Council Suspends Ong from Committees Until July 2027
Councillor Andrew Simms, who chaired the disciplinary item, stated that the council accepted the findings of an independent report regarding the latest breach. As a penalty, Ong has been suspended from all council committees and subcommittees for nine months, running until July 2027, according to 1News and the Otago Daily Times.
The new sanction overlaps with an existing nine-month suspension handed down in May following an independent investigation that concluded Ong had repeatedly leaked information that could potentially jeopardise the council’s commercial interests. Despite the committee bans, Simms confirmed that the suspension does not restrict Ong’s attendance at full council meetings.
Origin of the Complaint
The latest disciplinary action stems from a complaint lodged in early June by Deputy Mayor Cherry Lucas. The grievance related to a May Facebook post by Ong in which he referenced details from a confidential council meeting concerning legal action by a former employee and publicly criticised then-chief executive Sandy Graham.
Lucas argued that the social media post violated multiple councillor rules, including strict confidentiality requirements. The independent investigator’s report on the matter will remain confidential, though a council spokesperson noted that requests for the document are being processed under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.
Ong Will Step Down from Council Seat December 31
The latest suspension arrives amid shifting political plans for the councillor. After previously declaring that he would never resign despite mounting pressure from colleagues following initial code of conduct complaints, Ong announced last month that he would stand as an independent candidate in the Dunedin electorate.
He subsequently confirmed on social media that he will step down from his council seat on December 31, regardless of whether his parliamentary bid succeeds. During Thursday’s meeting, Ong maintained that he would serve out his full municipal term if elected, stating to the Otago Daily Times that he did not intend to force a by-election.
Ong has repeatedly defended himself against the disciplinary actions, asserting on social media that he has been the target of coordinated political attacks since his election last October, which he claimed have made his ongoing public role untenable.