The mayor at the centre of an expletive-laden rant by a neighbouring councillor has hit back, saying she will not put up with abusive behaviour.
Waipā mayor Susan O'Regan was insulted by Hamilton city councillor Andrew Bydder in his online submission over the placement of a third bridge in Cambridge, when Bydder wrote: "O'Regan - get off your fat arse and do your job".
He also opened his submission, which is almost entirely redacted online, with: "What the f**k are you r******d s*****c c**ts doing?"
"You have learned nothing from the dogs and the innovating street bullshit," Bydder wrote. "You continue to lie and disrespect the public. Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness."
O'Regan said she could not condone abuse of elected members or council staff.
"The fact this kind of vitriolic feedback has been submitted from someone who is an elected representative, is frankly appalling," she said.
"I have shared my concerns with Hamilton City mayor Paula Southgate who was equally concerned at the tone and language used.
"We are a bunch of hardworking individuals trying to do our very best for our communities. We can either stand up and say that this is not okay or stay silent and accept this type of behaviour.
"What you choose to ignore you choose to accept. I do not accept Cr Bydder's actions, and I encourage others not to either."
O'Regan sent Southgate a screenshot of the submission on Thursday and Southgate made a formal code of conduct complaint against Bydder on Friday.
RNZ understands there are at least six complaints in total, including from four Waipā councillors and one Hamilton councillor.
But Bydder is doubling down while at the same time claiming to be the victim.
Bydder, a first term as a councillor and architectural designer, said he was "clearly suffering from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to years spent battling councils to issue building consents within 20 working days".
"Every architectural designer knows this is true. Therefore I am the victim and the complainants are victim-bashing."
Earlier, he said everyone had the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.
"This is unequivocal. I have the right. Those councillors who complain about me are breaking the law. They can f**k off."
He said the real question should be why he made that submission and claimed Waipā council had a history of not consulting properly.
"I have previously called out council staff deliberately misleading the public on other matters. It is not a mistake. It is not incompetence. It goes way beyond that."
He claimed Waipā had a poor track record of consultation and it was happening again with the proposed third bridge.
"It shows they are the ones who don't give a f**k and insult the people."
Bydder, who lives in Cambridge, said his submission was "necessary, reasonable, professional, practical and responsible" to bring about an attitude change.
"It cannot be ignored."
RNZ
