‘‘I strongly advise you not to make public statements alleging illegality by the mayor or any public official, because you risk being personally sued for defamation,’’ Ms Graham said. Cr Ong has since continued to make contentious statements, such as that the mayor was blocking him from meeting staff. Benedict OngIn the minutes before yesterday’s Te Pae Māori committee began, Cr Ong arrived and noted his name plate was not set out. Cr Ong objected to a lack of speaking rights, saying he did not want to be seen sitting there and saying nothing. In a Facebook post 30 minutes later, Cr Ong said economic development and financial welfare of Māori in Dunedin was a priority for him.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 09, 2026 23:33 UTC