Asked about this by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Cr Ong said his Facebook statement was "self-explanatory". In that statement, Cr Ong said Cr Chambers had made "discriminatory remarks against our South Asian community" at a meeting on December 12. Cr Ong said he had "a chance private conversation" with Cr Chambers afterwards "where I sought to assist him to understand why his discriminatory remarks were wrong". Cr Russell Lund said last month Cr Ong spoke to him "immediately after his confrontation with Cr Chambers in the carpark" and Cr Ong was distressed by Cr Chambers’ alleged conduct. Cr Ong wanted Cr Chambers to apologise.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 13, 2026 22:02 UTC