Mayoral adviser sorry for outburst
Councillors complain after online rant about stadium plan targets them and MP
Asenior staffer in the Auckland mayoral office has apologised after publicly attacking two councillors and National MP for East Coast Bays Erica Stanford over a controversial proposal to demolish North Harbour Stadium.
On LinkedIn, Simon “Johnno” Johnston wrote that in his view it was “very sad that a few local councillors and local MP are talking up mistruths without any reason except self-ego”.
“Very sad. Same 2 selfish councillors who are anti-change at other stadiums and do no want progress on Auckland. Their bullying tactics on Auckland Council staff and stadium staff is personal. Pity the local National MP supports this behaviour,” he wrote in his opinion.
The issue is over a proposal in the council’s Long-Term Plan to demolish North Harbour Stadium at Albany and build a smaller facility at the site.
Two other options in the plan are to keep the existing stadium and change the operational management.
Johnston’s job in the mayoral office is as a lead liaison to Mayor Wayne Brown, engaging with community and business organisations, especially in the sporting, cultural and event sectors.
The Herald approached Johnston directly for comment about the LinkedIn post but he did not respond.
The incident occurred after Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) chief executive Nick Hill posted a piece from TAU board chair Vicki Salmon about North Harbour Stadium — that had appeared in the Herald — on his personal LinkedIn page.
The piece was open for public comments. Johnston’s tirade was among those comments.
The councillors Johnston referred to in his post are John Watson and Wayne Walker, who represent the Albany ward where North Harbour Stadium is located. They have complained to council chief executive Phil Wilson in a letter.
In the letter, the two councillors said the “disparaging comments” appeared to be defamatory because they had been seen by a significant number of council and TAU staff and the public.
“Such a litany of alleged offences is a serious accusation to make and casts aspersions on our integrity as Auckland councillors,” the letter said.
The councillors said the language used by Johnston “is more akin to that of a social media troll than a mayoral office employee who is being paid out of the public purse to provide, we assume, informed and objective advice to the mayor”.
“In our view, this outburst is yet a further example of how inappropriate behaviour has been allowed to permeate this entire process surrounding the future of North Harbour Stadium. Individuals like Mr Johnston have been allowed to act with impunity and with an almost total disregard for any conventional notions of due process or bureaucratic neutrality,” said Watson and Walker, who oppose the option to demolish the stadium.
In the letter, they accused TAU management and the board of a media blitz to influence the outcome of the consultation process on the future of the $450 million stadium.
Yesterday, Johnston deleted the offending comments and delivered an apology to the councillors’ offices.
He also apologised to Stanford and Brown.
A mayoral spokesperson said the comments did not reflect the views of the mayor or the mayoral office, and posting the comment fell short of the standard expected of council staff.
“It was made on social media by a staff member from his personal account and in his personal capacity, although his role was identified in the post.
“The comment appears to be a oneoff. Staff have been reminded of expectations about dealing with elected members professionally,” the spokesperson said.
The councillors have asked Wilson what code of behaviour Johnston is bound by and what redress is open to them.
Wilson said he had received the letter and taken immediate steps to deal with the matter and make expectations clear.
“Creating an environment of mutual respect when working with our elected members is essential, therefore we expect staff members to represent themselves professionally and appropriately,” he said.
The Herald has sought comment from Stanford.