The Rotorua Lakes Council met in the council chambers today. Photo / File
The Rotorua Lakes Council met in the council chambers today. Photo / File
A Rotorua councillor has accused mayoral candidate Reynold Macpherson of writing defamatory statements "in a state of inebriation" and sought legal advice about pursuing a defamation claim.
However, the claim he was inebriated has been rebuffed by Macpherson.
Rob Kent sought legal advice about an online post by Macpherson on May 10 titled "TRUST ROB KENT? YEAH RIGHT".
Kent alleged Macpherson questioned his integrity, accused him of duplicity and inferred he received Resource Management Act commissioner training and appointment to the RMA Policy Committee as "payback for ... enabling mayor Chadwick to be re-elected [in 2016]".
"His point is all fiction and innuendos obviously written in a state of inebriation since it contains uncorrected misspellings and grammatical errors even the most elementary spell checker would have immediately highlighted," he said.
"The post is obviously aimed at deliberately defaming me in the eyes of Rotorua voters in the hope of discouraging me from standing again … A decision I have yet to make."
After the post was made Kent sought legal advice from a senior barrister "believing I had a watertight case for defamation".
Mayoral candidate Dr Reynold Macpherson. Photo / Supplied
However he decided not to pursue it because of the cost and difficulty to prove.
"A case for defamation in the case of politicians is virtually impossible to pursue successfully through the legal system no matter how obviously defamatory the statements are which means online bullies, the likes of Reynold Macpherson, can hide behind social networking sites and defame to their heart's content without being held to account," Kent said.
"Responding to their posts gives them oxygen to the flames and publicity they are seeking.
"Really the only mugs are us for giving them clicks, for sharing their crap, for commenting, for giving them credence."
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick. Photo / File
Mayor Steve Chadwick said she had also investigated taking a defamation case after comments made by Macpherson a few years ago, but didn't proceed on the basis of cost.
"I can only urge us all as individuals not to buy into this platform which can become the politics of hatred and that is divisive and not good. I admire those that have called this out," she said.
Macpherson told the Rotorua Daily Post Kent's "imputation that I was inebriated is unworthy and goes to his integrity".
"The substantive arguments of my May 10 post, however, stand. His confirmation of when he received 'Chairing RMA Commissioner Certification' adds weight to my interpretation of his advancements on the public purse.
"He is welcome to respond to the post online directly, although the responses from the public to date suggest that he would be running the gauntlet."
Macpherson said the term "online bully" was simply name calling.
