Clarkson warned to watch his tongue

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby has said he will not tolerate behaviour by controversial new MP Bob Clarkson that harms the city's image.

Mr Crosby told the Herald yesterday that any negative publicity for Tauranga concerned him and he planned to speak to Mr Clarkson about how he represented the city.

The National MP, who narrowly defeated incumbent Winston Peters, was the subject of controversy in the week before the election for having used an expression in the hearing of a former employee that referred to his left testicle.

The controversy worsened when he told a television reporter who was questioning him about the matter, "I have to stand up, my crotch is so sore".

Mr Crosby said the incident concerned him.

"The image of Tauranga always worries me," he said. "I believe elected members, myself included, should not do anything that undermines the city as a whole."

He said politicians needed to be careful about what they said and did, and Mr Clarkson lacked experience in that way.

He hoped nothing the new MP said would taint Tauranga's image.

"I wouldn't want Bob's little controversies to stick to the city as a whole."

Asked if he would be warning Mr Clarkson to watch his tongue, Mr Crosby said he planned to discuss a range of issues with him.

"One is how we work together and represent the city."

Mr Clarkson did not return calls to the Herald yesterday.

Mr Crosby paid tribute to Mr Peters, saying Tauranga was losing 21 years of knowledge and experience of governmental systems with his departure.

"That's something you can't just learn quickly."

But he said Mr Clarkson also brought strengths to the job, including that he was pragmatic and a team player.

* Bob Clarkson holds the Tauranga seat by a majority of 568. Winston Peters has not conceded defeat, with 3456 special votes still to be counted.