Mic picks up councillor’s comments on mayor

Auckland councillor and former National MP Maurice Williamson, left, has been criticised by his colleagues after making comments about Wellington mayor Tory Whanau that were heard in a council meeting on Thursday. The Sunday-Star-Times understands he was attending the meeting remotely but was on a separate phone call when he left his mic on and comments of a “sexual nature” were broadcast to the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee meeting and online. Williamson apologised later in the meeting. Committee chairman Richard Hills has asked the council’s CEO to investigate.