Text tirades sent to Key, Parker

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North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams' late-night text tirades have reached Christchurch, with complaints about the city's nightlife and "Third World" service.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that he had deleted "obnoxious and aggressive" text messages sent to him by Williams, some as late as 3.30am.

Key said he had not bothered to keep any of the messages.

Williams has denied the messages were aggressive, and said politicians had to have thick skins.

On July 27, Williams sent a cellphone email to Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker just after midnight after dining with friends in the city. In the email, Williams said he and his party were "most disappointed with Christchurch tonight".

After attending a function in the city, his group went looking for a restaurant, but Williams told Parker "your city was dead as a duck".

Asked to comment on the email yesterday, Parker said it showed "a rather eccentric attitude" when councils around the country were looking to build solid relationships.

"Mayors usually refrain from criticising other mayors and their cities," he said.

In the email, Williams said his "reasonably large group" struggled to find a restaurant open after 9pm.

"What we did get offered finally arrived at 10pm, a whole hour's wait for food, so the service was 3rd world by anyone's standards. I hope this not normal for Chch because we were all less than impressed.

"... The media, I understand, are also interested in what we think of our visit to Christchurch so that will make an interesting story, don't you think, as a former media man?"

Williams could not be reached for comment yesterday. An automated reply from his cellphone said: "Due to the high volume of email messages received by His Worship the Mayor, your email will be responded to in the near future once the subject of your message has been considered."

He has denied the messages to Key and other ministers were aggressive and said they were sent late at night because he was still working.

"Politicians need to have thick skins and I certainly get plenty of pointed messages, texts and emails on different subjects, but that goes with the territory."

Williams said Key could have raised the issue with him rather than speak to the media.

Key said he was not the one who dobbed Williams in. The journalist who contacted him had found out from another source. "I've never complained [about them]. I certainly didn't go to the media about the issue. I wouldn't bother with it."

Key said the messages were all related to Williams' opposition to the Auckland super-city.