Invercargill Mayor to take month's leave
“With reflection, I came back to work too early, after open heart surgery."
Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark has decided to a month’s break acknowledging he returned to work too early following heart surgery this year.
The decision to take some time out follows a Code of Conduct complaint from the United Firebrigades Association that was aired publicly last week.
It prompted a resolution from his fellow council colleagues that Clark delegate speaking engagements to the deputy mayor or other councillor for the remainder of the term.
However, Clark has not excepted that.
He announced on Monday he would be taking a break and expects to return to his mayoral duties on 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.”