Emails breach Ecan code

Two Environment Canterbury (ECan) councillors breached the council's code of conduct through bullying emails, an inquiry has found.

The result of an investigation into last year's email spat "popped out" during chairman Alec Neill's monthly report to yesterday's council meeting.

A review board, chaired by Cr Sir Kerry Burke and including Cr Angus McKay and local government legal expert Carolyn Bull, found councillors Jo Kane and Rik Tindall had breached ECan's code of conduct.

The board recommended no further action be taken, but the full council has yet to consider its findings.

Kane complained in August about "threatening" emails sent by Tindall.

Tindall's email attack on his colleagues followed his unsuccessful bid to be elected as ECan's representative on a Christchurch City Council climate change and sustainability working party.

Tindall then made a complaint about Kane, accusing her of leaking emails to The Press.

Kane said yesterday she knew nothing of a complaint against her.

The code had become "a political tool" and "natural justice" had not been done, she said.

"My integrity has been impugned and my honesty has been impugned."

Kane said after yesterday's meeting that she did not send the emails and was determined to discuss the matter in public.

Kane was Burke's deputy until last year when her vote ended his ECan chairmanship.

Burke said he was surprised the board's recommendation had "popped out" of the chairman's report.

Burke said his recollection was that Kane had been advised in writing.

"The board was unanimous in its ... findings," he said.

Tindall said last night that he was surprised the breaches were discussed.

"From my point of view, bygones should be bygones," he said.

"I thought it [the decision] was fair enough and everybody's learnt from it, which is the main thing."Yesterday's meeting had other heated moments.

Cr Pat Harrow attacked an Auditor-General's decision last year against him and three other councillors who were found to be conflicted for taking part in discussions about proposed water charges.

"I will not accept the Auditor-General's ruling," he said.

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