Donna Bruce. PHOTO: ODT FILES A Gore district councillor has been told to apologise after she was found to have used a homophobic slur during a council meeting. Cr Robert McKenzie made a complaint against Cr Donna Bruce after allegations she had used the term ‘‘gay’’ pejoratively during a presentation made at a council workshop on April 21. An investigation by Anderson Lloyd partner James Cowan determined Cr Bruce broke the code of conduct. Mr Cowan noted in the report the breach was not significant or serious. In his recommendations, it was suggested Cr Bruce tender an apology to Cr McKenzie and council chief executive Debbie Lascelles, and for Cr McKenzie and Cr Bruce to attend voluntary mediation. Cr McKenzie said he would not comment on potential solutions for the issues between the two but hoped it was a ‘‘speed bump in the system’’. However, he was still looking for an apology. ‘‘There have been some things said about me in the media that are untrue and I think I deserve an apology for that.’’ Cr McKenzie said he had been ‘‘really looking forward to working with this council’’ at the start of the term. When asked if this had changed, he answered ‘‘yes’’. He also spoke about the social media pushback he had received over the past few weeks. ‘‘Facebook warriors need to understand comments they make can be very hurtful to others. ‘‘Especially when those things are untrue.’’ In May, Cr Bruce said she could not recall using the slur and said there was no proof she did so. She did not respond to a request for comment yesterday. The results of the report are on today’s council meeting agenda, when Cr Bruce is expected to make a statement. Cr McKenzie will not be attending due to taking planned leave. Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said he would withhold commentary for the council table but put the incident down to growing pains for the new council. ‘‘I think compared to last term, I wouldn’t say this is rocky at all. ‘‘I think it takes any council a little bit to get acclimatised to the different personalities around the table. ‘‘At the end of the day, we have rules, we have standing orders and we have code of conduct and councillors have signed off on those. ‘‘It’s a part of the requirements, they have to stick to those rules.’’ He hoped everyone would be respectful and keep within the rules at today’s meeting so they could ‘‘put this to bed and move on with more pressing issues’’. gerrit.doppenberg@odt.co.nz
