Politics

Chair of Otago local board refuses to explain racist comments

17:30 pm on 6 September 2023

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The chair of an Otago local board is refusing to explain his racist comments towards a staffer at a local pub.

Strath-Taieri board chair, Barry Williams, has been censured by Dunedin City Council for what it describes as a serious failure to uphold the standard of behaviour expected of an elected community representative.

Checkpoint understands Barry Williams' racist outburst was directed at a female staff member at the Strath Taieri Hotel.

Checkpoint has tried to speak to him for the last two days and he's sworn at us, and hung up.

Our Otago/Southland reporter Tess Brunton has been in Middlemarch today speaking to locals.