Ray Chung's Email About Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau 'Absolutely Disgraceful' - Chris Hipkins

Wednesday, 16 July 2025, 7:10 pm
Article: RNZ

Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira, Māori news journalist

Wellington-based MPs have roundly condemned councillor Ray Chung's email about Mayor Tory Whanau, and felt "embarrassed" to be from Wellington.

Labour leader and member for Remutaka Chris Hipkins said Chung's comments were "absolutely disgraceful" and it was "undoubtedly true" that women in politics were subjected to more abuse than men in politics.

"Women of colour are subjected to a degree even more of abuse, denigration and disrespect, and it isn't acceptable," Hipkins said.

"Regardless of someone's party political affiliation, regardless of whether you agree with them or not, there are ways to have these debates that still actually respect the person, and I hope that we can get back to that."

Hipkins said social media played a role and people felt more emboldened to make comments from the "protection of their own living room".

"When you're sitting at home in your living room, commenting on other people's social media posts or engaging in this sort of debate, ask yourself the fundamental question, 'would I say this to the person if they were standing right in front of me?'"

"If the answer to that is no, why are you writing it down?" he said.

Hutt South MP Chris Bishop said he felt "embarrassed as a Wellingtonian" and the whole affair was "pathetic".

"It really saddens me that local government in, what is New Zealand's second biggest city and a really important city, and my hometown, has descended into this level of ridiculousness," Bishop said.

"The city has really big challenges around housing, around transport, around fiscal rectitude, and we spent the last week talking about everything other than those issues."

Bishop said Chung was a "rogue" councillor acting in the "most weird way possible".

Asked why Wellington struggled to put up credible right-wing candidate, Bishop said he thought there needed to be some "soul searching".

Speaking to Labour in the debating chamber, Bishop said he told media six weeks ago mayoral and former Labour MP Andrew Little was a "solid" candidate and would most likely win the election.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said it was the "most stupid, silly email".

Labour's Wellington Issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the comments were "absolutely disgusting" and ultimately, Wellingtonians would make up their own mind's about Chung's mayoral hopes.

"The bigger issue is, who on earth is going to vote for this guy?" Verrall said.

"It's so important that Wellingtonians and other New Zealanders feel that there's good representation on offer to them. For the vast majority of elected people, you see people diligently going about their job. Ray Chung is well way out of line with norms in terms of how other politicians behave."

Labour's Ginny Andersen said the email was "unprofessional" and "unneeded".

"It's good that he has, I understand, apologised to Tory Whanau. That sort of politics is not necessary."

Andersen said she was seeing an increase in personal attacks on female politicians and Chung's behaviour looks like "gutter politics".

© Scoop Media

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