Female Councillors punished for “misbehaving” at meetings

Auckland City Councillors Glenda Fryer and Cathy Casey are being punished by Deputy Mayor David Hay for what he calls “misbehaving” at Council meetings. Cr Hay has advised the Council that he wishes Cr Fryer to be removed from the Electoral College that oversees the Auckland Museum and MOTAT. He has also advised the two City Vision councillors in writing that he is turning down their request to attend the Local Government Conference in Auckland in July because “if they cannot behave and conduct themselves in a proper manner in our own meetings, it is inappropriate in my view that they represent the City at “outside” meetings.”

Cr Fryer who has been a member of the Electoral College for almost nine years said, “I have been on the Electoral College for almost nine years and am one of its longest-serving members. Councils from the seven local authorities in the Auckland region are represented on it. I have served this Council faithfully through some very difficult periods e.g. the huge re-development of the Museum, the controversy over Sir Edmund Hillary’s bequest, increasing the funding for MOTAT and the recent exit of CEO Vanda Vitali.

“I have spoken out against the eviction of Monte Cecilia School and the re-siting of the Women’s Suffrage Memorial. If speaking passionately constitutes misbehaviour then I am guilty. I feel that Councillor Hay is being petty and vindictive, and is trying to bully us into submission.”

Councillor Casey said, “I suppose this is payback for daring to oppose Councillor Hay’s pet projects. He has clearly led the push to remove Monte Cecilia School and has been supportive of the drive by the arts fraternity to rid Khartoum Place of the Suffrage Memorial.”

“I wanted to go the Local Government Conference because it is in Auckland and it will be the last for this Auckland City Council. To be denied because of what Councillor Hay calls “misbehaviour” is a shocking abuse of his power as Deputy Mayor. I do not “misbehave”, I debate with vigour. I have an inkling now of what the suffragists must have gone though when they challenged the male patriarchy.”

ENDS

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