Council yet to revisit new media protocol

An Invercargill City Council working group is set to meet next month to discuss if any further action will be taken on its adopted media protocol.

The council adopted new media protocol in February where it asked that elected members focus on issues and activities when speaking to media, rather than the actions or decisions of other elected members.

Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, deputy mayor Nobby Clark, and Cr Lindsay Abbott all spoke against the need for that media protocol, raising concerns that it would sanitise their views.

Clark went as far as suggesting it was close to a gagging order, while Shadbolt said it was a sad day for freedom of speech and he would refuse to be muzzled.

Council’s independent appointee Jeff Grant said the media protocol was never intended to muzzle elected members.

He did not agree that the protocols put further restrictions on elected members’ ability to speak openly in the public.

In February, Grant told media he was open to revisiting the protocol, but said it was up to the council to do that.

There has yet to be any confirmation of the council will revisit it.

Stuff put questions to council in regard to if the working group, that created the new media protocol, had met and if it had discussed the prospect of revisiting the wording of the protocol.

Council communications advisor Hannah McLeod said the working group did not meet last month.

‘‘The next meeting is being scheduled in May with the date to be confirmed soon. The need for any further action [on the media protocols] will be discussed at that meeting.’’

The working group is chaired by Rebecca Amundsen with Graham Lewis the deputy chair.

Cr Ian Pottinger did not attend the initial meeting when the protocol was adopted, but later said he did not believe the council needed media protocol, saying the council’s code of conduct was sufficient.

A charter for elected members has also now been drafted to ‘‘guide our behaviour’’.