Cr Benedict Ong was asked a question by independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg about the identity of a Dunedin City Council staff member he had criticised.
"I do not intend to respond to your questioning and I do not believe there are any grounds for any form of investigation into the code of conduct complaint lodged by chief executive Sandy Graham," Cr Ong said.
Ms Graham made the complaint about Cr Ong after he sent an email on Wednesday last week.
Ms Dyhrberg has been tasked with making a preliminary assessment, but Cr Ong asked her yesterday to "please advise if you believe you are independent".
He has also publicly suggested without evidence the complaint was an attempt to force him out as a councillor.
Cr Ong has had a tumultuous start to the term.
His banking credentials were questioned, but the Otago Daily Times was able to verify he had experience in the sector.
In December, he alleged Cr John Chambers made "discriminatory remarks" about the South Asian community.
Ms Dyhrberg is looking into this complaint as well.
Emails from Cr Ong to the ODT appeared to show she had something of a battle to get him to be forthcoming about details and context.
In an email to Ms Graham and the ODT on Wednesday last week, Cr Ong did not name the staff member he criticised. However, the ODT considered it was obvious to whom he was referring.
In an email to Ms Dyhrberg yesterday, Cr Ong said the person was "anonymised and I have not identified the individual".
"In your not knowing who the individual is, you too have clearly demonstrated this," he told Ms Dyhrberg.
She advised she would be undertaking the preliminary assessment based on the available information.
