Crackett: 'Photograph flies in face of Mayor's genuine remorse'
“He has not taken the matter seriously at all… He has taken an incredibility disrespectful photograph that completely flies in the face of his statement of genuine remorse.”
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F051e8006-8891-4a39-acb0-56a0bddcaba6_1920x1080.png)
An Invercargill City Councillor believes the emergence of a photograph following a meeting on Friday “flies in the face of the genuine remorse” Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has indicated.
United Fire Brigades Association [UFBA] CEO Bill Batzbach wrote to the council on March 28 believing Clark was in “serious breach” of the council’s Code of Conduct following “bizarre” and “inappropriate” actions at a March event.
An independent investigation found that Clark did in fact breach the Code of Conduct.
The council discussed the matter at an extraordinary meeting where Clark opened by saying he believed the findings were “overly harsh” and also felt the complaint fell out of the scope of the council’s Code of Conduct.
Clark then left the meeting as his fellow council colleagues decided what to do.
A group of councillors indicated that Clark was very remorseful for his actions at the UFBA event.
Although councillor Alex Crackett has now questioned that remorse on the back of a photograph that emerged after the meeting.
The council had voted in favour of a resolution that the Mayor delegate his public appearances at formal public events to other elected members for the remainder of the term.
After the meeting an image was posted on the What’s On Invers Facebook page and circulated elsewhere. Clark was photographed with tap over his mouth, highlighting the fact he had been told to stop speaking in public.
“I personally do not believe that photo is a display of genuine remorse,” Cr Crackett said.
“He has not taken the matter seriously at all… He has taken an incredibility disrespectful photograph that completely flies in the face of his statement of genuine remorse.”
On Saturday morning Clark sent an email to his fellow councillors which stated he did not accept the council’s resolution for a restricted mayoral role. He stated he intends to continue to perform his mayoral duties as authorised in the Local Government Act.
Even if Clark had agreed to the resolution which restricted his public speaking engagements, it may have received significant pushback from the public given a Mayor - who is on $150,000 per year - was not required to carry out a large portion of his role for the remainder of the term.
In the Saturday morning email, he also fired a written shot at some of council colleagues for what he says has been ongoing ‘gas-lighting’.
He said it was a technique of name calling a person without debating the issue and without providing evidence. Clark wrote in the email to councillors that it has had impact on him and his partner Karen Carter.
“In my 5 years in politics, I have never ‘played the man’.
“My advice, given [Friday’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.”
The Tribune understands Clark has since sent another email to councillors indicating there was now some trust issues while communicating with other elected members given his Saturday morning email was leaked to media.
Clark told councillors that while he had already expressed regret for comments at the UFBA event in March, he will formalise that at Tuesday’s full council meeting.
In his opening address at Friday’s meeting, Clark said in four years as deputy mayor or mayor he had spoked at over 300 meetings, a third of those have been public meetings.
“I accept that on two occasions, one being the subject of this complaint, I did not perform well.
“I acknowledge to my colleagues that this Code of Conduct deflects from all of the good work done around the city and the work that is still in progress.”
On Monday Clark announced he would be taking leave for a month and is expected to return on Monday, July 21.
“Having spent some time over the weekend considering the impact of the Code of Conduct on me, Karen and our family, and the wider community, I’ve decided to take a further month off work.
“With reflection, I came back to work too early, after open heart surgery.
“Council approved a Leave of Absence for three months and I came back after two months. I feel I should use the remaining month to refresh and look more positively to my role as Mayor.”
“In the interim Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell will fill my role with support from the Committee Chairs.”
Council had an opportunity, they missed it. He is laughing his head off now. Remember those councillors that voted to keep him in next election. They're as much part of the problem as theyre blind to the rate payers demands in my opinion. Nobby made his allies look stupid with his tacky photo. He clearly dilligaf them all...
Reference in the article above to " Whats On Invers" .... No surprises there ..Nobby is right in with Sanford.