Tory Whanau: A council divided and a video no-one's seen

"I have a problem with alcohol."

Two days ago, Wellington’s Mayor Tory Whanau released a statement amid reports of drunken behaviour at a bar in the city two weekends ago.

Today, she returned to work at the Wellington City Council after recovering from Covid-19 at home.

Whanau has released two statements but not spoken about what actually happened.

That void is being filled by other councillors.

The mayor’s statement on Wednesday said that a drunken incident involving her “seems to have been recorded.”

Councillor Nicola Young claims to “know people” who have seen the video and is calling for Whanau to go.

"I think she should resign for her own sake, give her time to get better,” Young said.

Councillor Ray Chung said he was told there are “three videos” in circulation of the incident.

"We've been hearing about this for the last 10-12 days,” he said.

But, so far, there has been no evidence of any recording, and the rumours remain unsubstantiated.

Some councillors suspect dirty politics is involved.

"I do not think it is fair play,” Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon said.

"Some other councillors, you know, see an opportunity to make a bit of political gain,” Councillor Rebecca Matthews said.

Young didn't agree.

"Oh Rebecca's always having a go at the independent councillors,” she said in response.

Young and Chung said what they heard was in the video. Neither of them had actually seen it.

At this stage, one of the few actual witnesses to what happened on November 18 at Havana Bar is co-owner Roger Young, who paints a very different picture.

"I do not like the fact that people can't go out, no matter what your status is, and just have a good time and lies are being told about you that you were absolutely out of control in a bar, when clearly we were all here, and we did not witness that at all,” he said.

Around the council table, the mood is clearly divided.

"I've been on council 10 years, and never have been on a council like this one, you've got a whole lot of activists, and then a bunch of independents to whom the mayor never talked to anyway,” Nicola Young said.

Matthews said she thought it was brave of Whanau to be open about her situation.

“I do think it's very hard when people exploit that situation,” she said.

"Working with a wāhine Māori mayor over the last year, I feel like there's been an inappropriate amount of discrimination on her, and her role,” Foon said.

Political scientist Lara Greaves told 1News that research shows women are held to a higher standard than men, and women of colour even more so.

"I think we need to have a broader conversation about where the privacy line is for politicians," she said.

“I think the city is in quite a fragile place and it needs to have firm, positive leadership with people who are not distracted by side issues,” Nicola Young said.

"I wish that we would stop with the dog piling and just get on with it," councillor Nīkau Wi Neera said.

Whanau said she is now receiving professional help for her alcohol problem, and is back at work today in person.

The mayor has declined all of 1News' requests for an interview so far.