Jim Hopkins. PHOTO: ODT FILES The ‘‘savagery’’ which elected representatives are exposed to on social media is ‘‘shameful’’, a Waitaki councillor says after death threats were made to a fellow councillor. Cr Jim Hopkins was speaking after police confirmed they were investigating online death threats made to his colleague, Cr Sven Thelning. ‘‘The personal savagery with which individuals and organisations are attacked on social media is often shameful.’’ And that anonymity meant people felt ‘‘entitled to be as extreme as they wish’’. ‘‘If you are going to communicate, you have to put your name to it.’’ The threats were made to Cr Thelning ahead of a 22% rates rise in the district. He said in a statement on Wednesday he would ‘‘leave it to the appropriate authorities to deal with’’ the matter and would not give ‘‘abusive’’ comments ‘‘the time of day’’. Sergeant Blair Wilkinson yesterday confirmed police were making inquiries after a report of online threats against a person in Waitaki. A council spokesman said police were advising council staff and elected members on maintaining safety. ‘‘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 Frans Schlack said there was a ‘‘tense atmosphere’’ ahead of the rates rise. Sven Thelning. PHOTO: DANIEL BIRCHFIELD Cr Schlack said people were ‘‘mostly’’ respectful but there were a minority who were not. In some cases, responding to communication resulted in receiving abuse back, he said. Local Government NZ chief executive Scott Necklen said the incident was distressing. ‘‘Nobody should be subject to this type of behaviour when going about their jobs. ‘‘In recent years, elected members are increasingly dealing with abuse and harassment, both online and in person. This ranges from threats of physical harm to being harassed and intimidated in public. Both elected leaders and their families have been targeted.’’ 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 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. 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 petition to the mayor and chief executive on the council building steps during a ‘‘peaceful’’ rally planned for Thursday. 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 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’’.
