Ms Graham made the complaint about Cr Ong after he sent an email on Wednesday last week. Ms Dyhrberg has been tasked with making a preliminary assessment, but Cr Ong asked her yesterday to "please advise if you believe you are independent". Cr Ong has had a tumultuous start to the term. In an email to Ms Graham and the ODT on Wednesday last week, Cr Ong did not name the staff member he criticised. In an email to Ms Dyhrberg yesterday, Cr Ong said the person was "anonymised and I have not identified the individual".

Source: Otago Daily Times February 10, 2026 15:37 UTC