However, Mr Cull and council civic and legal manager Kristy Rusher defended the council paying the legal fees, which so far added up to just over $36,000. Both Ms Rusher and Mr Cull said Cr Vandervis should have been aware of this when he launched the legal action. He remained confident he would win the case, saying what Mr Cull said was ''plain as the nose on your face defamation''. He was labelled ''a liar'' by Mr Cull and ejected from the meeting after suggesting he had given Mr Cull ''personal evidence'' to back his claim. ''Cr Vandervis should have been fully aware of this when he lodged his claim,'' he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 02, 2016 17:12 UTC