Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is back in the headlines, this time for breaching the council's tenancy agreement by bringing her dog into the office.
The Post reports Whanau has been bringing her dog, Teddy a staffordshire bull terrier, into the office on The Terrace in central Wellington.
Whanau's office confirmed to The Post the lease agreement the council had for its offices on The Terrace "does not allow animals on the premises".
But the council said it hasn't received any formal breach notice from the landlord or been asked for Whanau to stop bringing her dog in.
"Council staff can choose to walk the dog during their lunch break," Whanau's office said when asked if council-paid assistants undertook the task.
Multiple councillors confirmed to The Post they would love to bring their dogs into the council offices but have been told not to.
Councillors also confirmed the dog had been in the mayor's office almost every time they had been there, and staff regularly walked it.
Councillor Nicola Young said the situation with the mayor's dog was confusing.
"I know some councillors would love to bring their dogs in. It seems there are two rules," she told The Post.
SPCA science officer Alison Vaughan said a pet-friendly workplace could boost staff morale, have an impact on well-being and attract talent.
This isn't the first time Whanau has been in the headlines this month. She previously admitted to being a "bit tipsy" at a local restaurant but denied asking a waiter if he knew who she was.
Whanau told Newshub previously she was out at the local restaurant, The Old Quarter, with a friend and walked out without paying.
"The Old Quarter is one of my favourite restaurants. I'm a regular patron. I am so embarrassed that we walked out without paying," Whanau told Newshub in a statement.
"It was an honest mistake, one that we corrected the next morning."
The manager of the restaurant said at one point, Whanau asked the server "Do you know who I am?"
The manager said he did not think Whanau acted inappropriately or rudely, it was just "silly little comments"
Whanau told Newshub she "strenuously deny any other accusations" about her conduct and being refused service.
"They are simply false," she said.
"I will continue to work towards delivering on positive outcomes for the city, delivering accelerated climate action, affordable housing, and better services for Wellington."
