Stevenson yet to apologise

Dunedin city councillor Teresa Stevenson has yet to apologise for breaching standing orders, 10 days after she was ordered to do so, and Mayor Peter Chin said yesterday he was expecting it "sooner, rather than later".

Cr Stevenson was alleged to have leaked details of a confidential letter about the Forsyth Barr Stadium, sent to the Government by Mr Chin and Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns, to the Otago Daily Times in January.

Councillors were told about the letter at the time, and were also told the matter was to remain confidential.

It was eventually released, and included an offer of a share of equity in the council's $70 million social housing portfolio in return for Government funds towards the stadium project.

Cr Stevenson's actions were investigated following a complaint from Cr Fliss Butcher.

She was censured, and asked to make "an appropriate apology" to the council.

Mr Chin said yesterday an apology had not yet been made, though the council had been fully occupied during the past two weeks with annual-plan hearings.

Cr Stevenson has received support for her actions, especially from among those concerned about the council's social housing policy, after the possibility was raised $1 million a year could be taken from the housing budget.

Mr Chin said the issue was not about social housing.

"The issue is very simple."

If councillors were told something in confidence, that rule was in place for all, not for any one councillor to use their own judgement on whether something was confidential or not.

"The subject matter is not the issue."

Cr Stevenson could not be contacted yesterday.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz

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