Cr Sven Thelning said he will not give “abusive” comments “the time of day” after receiving the threats ahead of a 22% rates rise in the district.
Cr Thelning said in a statement he would ‘‘leave it to the appropriate authorities to deal with’’ the matter.
The Waitaki District Council later confirmed the threats were reported to police.
Sergeant Blair Wilkinson said: ‘‘Police have received a report of online threats against a person in Waitaki.
‘‘Police are making inquiries.’’
Police were advising council staff and elected members on maintaining safety, the council said.
“Council has received a small number of abusive comments which are unacceptable — targeting council staff or breaching Facebook’s standards.
“These are hidden or deleted, depending on the severity,” the council said.
Cr Thelning, who was singled out on social media for abuse, said the majority of correspondence he had received over the impending rates increase for Waitaki was ‘‘genuine’’.
Councillors approved the 22% rise at a meeting last month.
Rates are now due to be set on June 30 at an extraordinary general meeting when the annual plan is also adopted.
As opposition to the scale of the increase gains traction in the community, there have also been informal reports that council staff have been spat at, verbally abused and accosted at the supermarket.
Facebook page Oamaru Today posted an apology this week after Cr Thelning was identified in a ‘‘name and shame’’ thread about a councillor and subsequently attacked online.
Cr Thelning said he accepted the apology.
‘‘I have huge respect for the people who are organising in a peaceful, respectful and admirable manner — including those who have consistently called for positive community action.
‘‘You are being heard and we have a big job ahead to balance all factors in our decision.
‘‘While people are entitled to be critical, I am not giving abusive comments the time of day and will leave it to the appropriate authorities to deal with.’’
Ahead of the June 30 meeting, protesters are circulating a petition calling for the 22% rates hike to be scrapped.
Protesters plan to present the paper petition to the mayor and chief executive on the steps of the council building during a ‘‘peaceful’’ rally planned for Thursday, June 25.
The rally will start at Takaro Park in Severn St at 11.30am.
Protest organiser Kirsty Cashmore said in a social media post it was “really concerning” to hear there had been threats of violence.
“This is not what we’re about — from the very start of this we have called for calm and a peaceful approach and behaviour like this will not work in our favour and reflects badly on our community.”
Waitaki District Mayor Mel Tavendale said, in a recent Oamaru Mail column, public debate was “essential” in a healthy democracy and disagreement was a part of that.
But a line was crossed when criticism turned into “abuse, threats or intimidation”.
There was “no justification” for hostility towards people carrying out their duties, she said.
