Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull concedes he got it wrong in comments about the Local Government Commission.
Mr Cull, speaking to the Otago Daily Times last week, said there was ''every chance'' the commission could ignore the council's wishes after changes to the city's local government system were considered next week.
He suggested that was what had happened in 2010, when the commission ignored the council's wishes by implementing one large urban ward and two rural wards, and that the same could happen again.
The comment prompted a rebuttal from commission principal adviser Donald Riezebos yesterday, who said Mr Cull's version of events was ''not a correct description of what happened''.
Prior to 2010, the council had established an independent review panel which eventually recommended a change from six wards to three.
The council had later en-dorsed that proposal, prompting public submissions, including some supporting the status quo, while others backed an at-large approach or other changes, Mr Riezebos said.
The council continued to support the three ward proposal despite the submissions, leading to 10 appeals, he said.
They were considered by the commission, which then confirmed the council's proposal for three wards, he said.
Contacted yesterday, Mr Cull said he accepted he was wrong.
An at-large proposal had been discussed at the time, and was supported by Mr Cull, ''but it was never council's position'', he said.
''It would appear they're right ... The recommended position was what we ended up with.''
