Southern mayoral hopeful’s website ‘horrendous’

A candidate for mayor in Invercargill is facing backlash from fellow candidates after disturbing content was posted on his party website. Gordon McCrone, the sole member of the unofficial party, has content on the website that has been described as “dangerous” and sexually disturbing. Despite pending approval for his nomination on the Invercargill City Council website, McCrone’s website claims he is an unregistered child sex psychologist and makes other questionable statements.

Several sitting councillors running for mayor have condemned the website content. Ria Bond expressed concern about the lack of candidate safety checks and called for a robust system to ensure candidates meet community standards. Deputy Mayor Tom Campbell and Alex Crackett also criticized the content, calling it appalling and dangerous. McCrone has already been barred from a debate by the Southland Business Chamber due to the concerning nature of the website content.

The chamber received support for their decision, with Councillor Ian Pottinger also backing their stance. The police did not confirm if any complaints had been received about the website. Invercargill City Council’s deputy electoral officer, Michael Morris, explained that the rules for candidacy are outlined in legislation with minimal restrictions for running.

Election day is scheduled for October 11. It remains to be seen how McCrone’s controversial website will impact his candidacy for mayor in Invercargill.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air