Cr Marie Laufiso said she made her code of conduct complaint against Cr Lee Vandervis after years of unapologetically challenging him.
She also compiled her notes for independent investigator Jordan Boyle on the day Green Party MP Fa’anānā Efeso Collins had died, February 21 this year.
"I pay tribute to Fa’anānā for his staunchly ethical, values-based and courageous approach to leadership, his willingness to court unpopularity by speaking out on and challenging racism and his resilience in withstanding the harmful and negative aspects of his journey as a Pasifika local government politician," she said.
The Otago Daily Times asked Cr Laufiso for comment after Cr Vandervis was found to have materially breached the code of conduct.
She referred to the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack in 2019 and said the Dunedin City Council had adopted a position of zero tolerance towards racism.
"Racism, like sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, is all about power — the power to enforce your prejudices in a systematic, institutionalised and socially pervasive way."
Cr Laufiso was grateful for speeches by Philippa Jamieson and Dr Bridie Lonie in the public forum at Wednesday’s council meeting before the code breach was discussed by councillors.
Mr Boyle found Cr Vandervis breached the code by refusing to attend Te Pae Māori forum meetings, referring to mana whenua representatives on two council committees as anti-democratic and race-based representation, and for statements made in an email in July last year.
Mr Boyle said he was not required to make a finding on whether Cr Vandervis demonstrated contempt for Te Pae Māori and both mana whenua and mātāwaka.
In a supporting statement to her interview with Mr Boyle, Cr Laufiso said she was not accusing Cr Vandervis of hate speech, but "I am highlighting his astuteness and ability to ‘subtly skate’ very close to the edge of hate speech with respect to mana whenua".
The council has requested an apology from Cr Vandervis and that he participate in Te Pae Māori meetings.
Cr Vandervis has rejected accusations of racism.
