Mayor Clark Responds: Will Not Be Silenced (full letter)

Editors note: Mayor Clarks response letter to his colleagues was leaked to media, whatsoninvers.nz contacted the mayor for a copy and have published it below.

Hi team

Needless to say, I was disappointed by this process yesterday. I just wish to reiterate that I am not resigning.

I’ve considered the suite of resolutions you passed and make the following comments to you:

I will write to Miss X today and Andrew Cameron can send the apology to her.
While I’ve already expressed regret to you all at yesterday’s meeting, I will formalise that at Tuesday’s full Council meeting.
I do not accept the restricted role in resolution 8 and I intend to fully perform my mayoral duties as authorised in the LG Act.
Those duties include invites to speak at public meetings and in other forums such as interfacing with international delegations, Ministers of the Crown, LGNZ and local councils.

On a side issue, I support free speech in a democracy, but that freedom comes with some degree of accountability. Both Karen and I have spoken publically recently about the impact of ‘gas lighting’ (which is a technique of name calling a person without debating the issue and without providing evidence ) and the impact on us both and our wider family. In my 5 years in politics, I have never ‘played the man’

My advice, given yesterday’s meeting that also included this, is that my ‘thick skin’ and desire not to challenge this inappropriate behaviour, is now at an end.

Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of my values and I like to be transparent, and you are free to express whatever you wish.

Please be aware if you feel it is ok to refer to me as a racist, homophobic, sexist, misogynist and ageism, you will need to provide evidence that supports those views when I challenge those comments.

Thanx to those who made contact yesterday after the meeting to make sure Karen and I are ok.

Regards

Nobby