Third code of conduct complaint laid against controversial Dunedin councillor Bendict Ong

9 Jun 2026

Bendict Ong forwarded the confidential complaint to media.

Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

A controversial Dunedin councillor has had a third code of conduct complaint laid against him.

Benedict Ong has already been suspended from some duties over his behaviour.

The latest code of conduct complaint, from deputy mayor Cherry Lucas, alleged Ong has again publicly posted confidential information and criticised the council's chief executive on social media.

It took the first-term councillor 18 minutes to forward the confidential complaint to media on Tuesday.

The email to Ong had the subject line "CONFIDENTIAL MATTER" and said, "In order not to prejudice any investigation that may be required following the preliminary assessment, this matter should not be litigated in public or in the media".

Ong sent the substance of the complaint to selected media accompanied by a statement.

"Our Deputy Mayor who has long been most highly politically astute across her dedicated length of political service and therefore willingly, agreeably and diligently beholden to the highest authority of the Mayor Sophie Barker for her Deputy Position, is desirous to roll over to the highest of authority of the Mayoralty once again. In a similar but not the same way that our most unfortunate Council CEO Sandy Graham was most unfortunately "compelled" possibly and probably unwillingly to direct political attacks at me under Ms Graham's good name, which in reality were under the strict instructions or strict coercion of Her Worship The Mayor Sophie Barker," Ong wrote.

The code of conduct complaint related to a Facebook post Ong made in May.

The complaint alleges he refers to matters from a confidential council meeting and criticises the council's chief executive in a public forum.

It says Ong was asked by mayor Sophie Barker, in person and via Facebook, to remove the post immediately.

However, the post remains on social media.

Lucas said the post breached several rules for councillors, including the requirement to not release confidential information.

Councillors needed to be aware of their obligations as employers and raise any concerns about the chief executive with the mayor or the chair of the executive performance review committee, Lucas said.

Council general manager of city services Scott MacLean outlined the process to Ong in the now leaked email, saying the complaint had been referred to a investigator and would be assessed.

Ong was already suspended in May from all council committees and subcommittees for nine months over leaking confidential information.

The council confirmed a complaint had been received.

The council would not make any further comment while the investigation was underway.

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