KEY POINTS:
A newly elected community board member says Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is refusing to swear him into office for political reasons and not because of domestic violence convictions as claimed.
National Party member Wayne Davis has been elected on to the New Lynn Community Board. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to assaulting his then wife and breaching an order protecting her.
Mr Harvey, a leader of the mayoral campaign against family violence and former Labour Party president, said he and deputy mayor Penny Hulse had declined to officiate at the swearing-in because to do so would be in conflict with the campaign.
"I feel very strongly about this and this is not political in any way. Yes, he's been a well-known letter writer and hasn't liked anything we've done, but that's not the point," he said.
But Mr Davis said it was about the many letters-to-the-editor he had written criticising Mr Harvey.
He produced an email from Mr Harvey, dated Wednesday, which reads: "Wayne, get this straight it's not about your family or your election or Rebecca [Robertson, another candidate in the election] it's about the years of shit letter [sic] you have written to the Western Leader about me and my council team. End of Story. Bob."
Mr Davis said the mayor was abusing his power. "I think it's petty."
He said the swearing-in ceremony could be performed by the board chairwoman, the chief executive or electoral officer.
