Wellington's mayor Tory Whanau has used her valedictory speech to call out the government, some of her colleagues, past mayors and councillors, and the media.
She spoke at the council chambers on Wednesday morning.
She said members around the council table fed "defamatory" rumours to the media, and some media were reporting that as fact.
Lobby groups harassed councillors, and previous mayors and councillors criticised the council for high rates when it was their decisions that led to under investment in the first place, she said.
"Whether it was members around this very table feeding defamatory rumours to the media. Whether it was some media reporting on defamatory rumours as fact. Whether it's previous mayors or elected members who criticized this council for high rates - even though it was their decisions and under-investment who caused them - leaving us to pick up the bill," Whanau said.
Whanau said the government claimed to be about localism, but "dictated councils go back to basics while punching down on the rest of the country".
"Thank you, because without those challenges perhaps this council would not have delivered the most progressive and action oriented plans it has ever seen."
She said she concluded the term with greater mana and resilience than ever before.
She said she was proud of the work done under her leadership including the council's investment in water infrastructure, increased cycle and priority bus lanes, tree planting, a boost to funding city safety and tackling homelessness, and funding the City Mission to open New Zealand's first wet house.
Tory Whanau gives her valedictory speech. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The council was also on track to complete the Moa Point waste minimisation plant and to reopen the Civic Square precinct, she said.
One of her main policy priorities was starting the Golden Mile upgrade which began construction earlier this year, though its future remains uncertain with contracts for the majority of the work set to be signed next month after local body elections.
Whanau said the challenges she faced as mayor had became lessons that she was grateful to take forward in her current run for Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward.
"That's why I'm running. Because I want to make sure that strong voice is there to advocate and keep this council on track - keep the long term plan on track. I hope that I'm still a vote around the table to be able to do that," Whanau said.
She said the city had achieved a five percent reduction in climate emissions in the last year.
"We aimed for a place where our nature and creativity can continue to flourish; a community that celebrates diversity and looks after its most vulnerable; and one that honours Te Tiriti with our iwi partners.
"We are well on our way to achieving that and delivering a transformed city," Whanau said.
Whanau - who was seeking election in the council's Māori ward - said she finished her term with "greater mana and resilience" than she had ever had before.
In April, she announced she would not run again for the mayoral chains, after former Labour Party leader Andrew Little threw his hat into the ring.
Whanau had also previously been open about how she considered quitting the mayoralty after facing scrutiny for her political and personal challenges.
Early in her speech, she thanked councillors, including those she did not agree with politically, saying she respected their advocacy for their communities.
Whanau said councillors should be proud of what they achieved, and to celebrate their wins, citing passing the district plan that allowed for increased housing stock.
She said councillors of all political persuasions faced harassment and online abuse, but in particular Māori, women, and those from diverse communities.
Whanau said she experienced it herself and would not wish it on anyone.
Mayoral hopeful Ray Chung eventually apologised to Whanau over an email he sent to other councillors in 2023 containing sexual allegations the mayor described as a "malicious and sexist" rumour.
Whanau also called out one of Chung's backers - the Better Wellington group - for "harassing elected members".
"While we've made huge strides in getting seats around the table and say in decision making, this is being threatened by online abuse and perpetrated by people who are determined to silence our voices, diminish our experiences, question our capabilities and ultimately hurt the people we are elected to serve," she said.
Better Wellington's Alistair Boyce rejected any claims of harassment from the mayor.
"I don't believe we've ever done that and that's not a part of what Better Wellington stands for. So I absolutely refute that. What Tory should do is concentrate on running the city more effectively," Boyce said.
Tory Whanau speaks to media on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Outgoing Labour-aligned councillor Teri O'Neill said the degree of vitriol and hate directed at councillors during Whanau's term was unprecedented.
She said the next council needed to be unified in their condemnation of hateful rhetoric and threats towards elected officials.
"It's not a left or a right or a red or a blue issue. I don't believe that it should be a political party stance to stand up for folks that are receiving death threats online.
"So I hope that we can see consensus around the table going forward and I put that challenge out to the next council but also central government and other places too," O'Neill said.
Earlier this year, she told RNZ's Saturday Morning programme that politics had become a lot more toxic.
"Being the progressive change mayor - that does bring a lot of negativity."
Being wāhine Māori had also posed extra difficulties, she said, citing the treatment of other Māori politicians.
There were double standards, and the negativity had also moved onto the rainbow community, she said.
"Politics at the moment has become quite an ugly place and I'm just an example of part of that."
She said politics could be lonely and isolating.
"It's absolutely crucial" to have discussions about the online criticism directed at women and gay politicians, she said.
Outgoing Wellington mayor Tory Whanau gave her valedictory speech in council chambers on Wednesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
In 2023 she admitted to having a drinking problem, but called out reporting on the issue including by RNZ.
Last year she also had been diagnosed with ADHD which she received praise for going public about.
Her tenure saw the appointment of a Crown observer onto the council after it failed to agree to sell shares in Wellington Airport.
There was also a failed plan to buy the ground under Reading Cinema to enable earthquake strengthening.
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