The story so far

2012: Dunedin City Council begins confidential file on Cr Lee Vandervis.

Late 2014early 2015: Code of conduct complaints (bullying, aggressive and misleading behaviour) are upheld. Cr Vandervis storms out of meeting to discuss his punishment, given 24 hours to offer a ‘‘genuine’’ apology for his behaviour or be stripped of his voting rights. Apology considered insufficient, he is suspended from all council committees for two months.

2017: Mayor Dave Cull pays Cr Vandervis $50,000 in defamation case following a heated exchange during a council meeting in 2015, when Cr Vandervis claimed to have paid a backhander to secure a council contract in the 1980s. Mr Cull called him a ‘‘liar’’ and ejected him from the meeting after he suggested he had given Mr Cull ‘‘personal evidence’’ to back his claim.

2020: Vandervis file released after complaint to ombudsman. It details 27 recorded incidents, including standing over, bullying, implying incompetence and corruption, shouting at, berating, intimidating, denigrating, swearing at council staff.