A Dunedin city councillor has been forced to apologise to colleagues after news Dunedin City Council chief executive Jim Harland had received a pay rise was leaked to the media.
Mayor Peter Chin yesterday confirmed the councillor had apologised during a non-public discussion on standing orders at yesterday's Dunedin City Council meeting.
The apology followed the release of information relating to Mr Harland, Mr Chin said.
"It was a breach of standing orders dealt with by the council.
"An apology was accepted."
However, he would not name the councillor involved, saying only: "The ODT knows."
Last month, a city councillor confirmed to the Otago Daily Times Mr Harland had received a pay rise following an annual performance appraisal, adding to his salary of $335,000 per annum.
The leak came days before Mr Chin - who is chairman of the council's performance appraisal team - was ready to release the information.
Mr Chin said at the time of the leak there were "protocols" to work through before releasing the information.
"I don't want to be in a situation, in an employment situation, where we've done something and haven't consulted in full."
The following week he confirmed Mr Harland's pay rise had been approved.
The rise amounted to an increase of $17,000, to $352,000.
The ODT will not be naming the councillor.
