Auckland politician Duncan MacDonald censured after threatening member of public
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
A local politician who falsely accused a business owner of criminal activity and yelled threats at a member of the public has been censured.
Auckland's Whau Local Board censured Duncan MacDonald at its business meeting on Wednesday after complaints were made by two people in January and March 2019.
The independent conduct review panel, led by barrister Derek Firth, agreed MacDonald had breached Auckland Council's code of conduct in two instances.
The panel recommended MacDonald be censured in both instances.
**READ MORE:
* New Plymouth councillor told off for backing Confederate flag during radio show
* Crown prosecutor is censured and fined $500
* Tribunal censures and fines Waikato DHB nurse who faked emails**
The first complaint was lodged by an Avondale business owner. He alleged MacDonald had used 'offensive language' towards him.
He also said MacDonald had sent emails to council staff, attaching images from the business owner's personal social media account and falsely implying he had 'engaged in criminal activity', the report said.
The second complaint related to an incident between MacDonald and another member of the public on an early morning in March.
The complainant was walking his dog on a West Auckland street when MacDonald pulled up in a white van, the report said.
MacDonald yelled: 'You better watch yourself, I am sick of all the s… you've been spreading about me on Facebook, this is my final warning, you should look out for me,' the report said.
Those threats had 'genuinely concerned the complainant', it said.
A complaint was also laid with police, but they decided 'not to take it further at this stage'.
'I'm now very conscious about walking around Avondale, particularly at dark,' the complainant said.
'I'm fearful he will try and escalate matters further.'
MacDonald responded by saying the complainant had been 'trolling' him on Facebook.
He was 'unapologetic' about the incident and said the 'little chat' he had had with the complainant 'had the desired effect', as he had 'deleted all his online trash' just hours later.
A third complaint was also reviewed by the independent review panel, but was found not to breach the council's code of conduct, as it related to MacDonald's conduct as the chairman of the Avondale Business Association.