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Do you want a copy of his fucking drivers licence? It's a birthdate, totally inconsequential. Thousands of birthdays on Wikipedia that cite no source, but yes I did get it from his Facebook :)
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2022–2025 term: added opposition to Aurora Energy sale
 
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| office = Councillor for the [[Dunedin City Council]]
| office = Councillor for the [[Dunedin City Council]]
| term_start = [[2004 New Zealand local elections|2004]]
| term_start = [[2004 New Zealand local elections|2004]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|8|8|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1955}}
| birth_place = [[Balclutha, New Zealand|Balclutha]], New Zealand
| birth_place = [[Balclutha, New Zealand|Balclutha]], New Zealand
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
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Lee Vandervis stood for re-election in the [[2013 New Zealand local elections|October 2013 local election]] as a Dunedin City Councillor; he also contested the Dunedin mayoralty for the fourth time.<ref name="Mayoral contest heats up">{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Chris |title=Mayoral contest heats up |url= http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/257993/mayoral-contest-heats |access-date=24 May 2013 |newspaper=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=22 May 2013}}</ref> He was elected as to Council and placed third for the mayoralty.<ref name="2013 results">{{cite web |title=Dunedin City Council : 2013 Triennial Elections |url=http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/345979/Dunedin-City-Council-2013-Triennial-Elections-Preliminary-STV-Result-Report.pdf |publisher=[[Dunedin City Council]] |access-date=14 October 2013 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Mayor, [[Dave Cull]], did not appoint Vandervis to any committees, commenting that ''he had no confidence he could contribute constructively, nor maintain any of the relationships needed to do the work effectively.''<ref>No leadership role for Vandervis, Debbie Porteous, Otago Daily Times, 24 October 2013</ref>
Lee Vandervis stood for re-election in the [[2013 New Zealand local elections|October 2013 local election]] as a Dunedin City Councillor; he also contested the Dunedin mayoralty for the fourth time.<ref name="Mayoral contest heats up">{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Chris |title=Mayoral contest heats up |url= http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/257993/mayoral-contest-heats |access-date=24 May 2013 |newspaper=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=22 May 2013}}</ref> He was elected as to Council and placed third for the mayoralty.<ref name="2013 results">{{cite web |title=Dunedin City Council : 2013 Triennial Elections |url=http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/345979/Dunedin-City-Council-2013-Triennial-Elections-Preliminary-STV-Result-Report.pdf |publisher=[[Dunedin City Council]] |access-date=14 October 2013 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Mayor, [[Dave Cull]], did not appoint Vandervis to any committees, commenting that ''he had no confidence he could contribute constructively, nor maintain any of the relationships needed to do the work effectively.''<ref>No leadership role for Vandervis, Debbie Porteous, Otago Daily Times, 24 October 2013</ref>


On 16 March 2015, Lee Vandervis was subject to a code of conduct hearing dealing with three complaints against him for his alleged bullying, aggressive, and misleading behaviour. Vandervis has defended his actions. The city councillor had been involved in an argument with the Dunedin City Council's chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose and had criticized the council and the local police's investigation of the illegal sale of 150 the Council's Cityfleet vehicles to local residents. On 1 May 2015, Vandervis was temporarily stripped of his voting rights after failing to apologize for these actions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Telfer|first1=Ian|title=Council accused of unprofessional behaviour|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/268750/councillor-accused-of-unprofessional-behaviour|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand News]]|date=16 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Chris|title=Apology lacking; voting rights to go|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340734/apology-lacking-voting-rights-go|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=1 May 2015}}</ref> According to the ''[[Otago Daily Times]]'' journalist Kim Dungey, Vandervis was well known within Dunedin circles for his acrimonious relationship with Mayor Cull and several city councillors; taking issue with the council's alleged misspending of public money, the Cityfleet fraud case, and property speculation by Council's Delta Utility Services.<ref name="Fighting City Hall 2015" /> In addition, Vandervis has also opposed a 3.8% rates increase and has called for the council to cut back on staff numbers and to "be run more like a business."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goodwin|first1=Eileen|title=Council sets 3.8% rates rise|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/343296/council-sets-38-rates-rise|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=23 May 2015}}</ref>
On 16 March 2015, Lee Vandervis was subject to a code of conduct hearing dealing with three complaints against him for his alleged bullying, aggressive, and misleading behaviour. Vandervis has defended his actions. The city councillor had been involved in an argument with the Dunedin City Council's chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose and had criticised the council and the local police's investigation of the illegal sale of 150 the Council's Cityfleet vehicles to local residents. On 1 May 2015, Vandervis was temporarily stripped of his voting rights after failing to apologise for these actions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Telfer|first1=Ian|title=Council accused of unprofessional behaviour|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/268750/councillor-accused-of-unprofessional-behaviour|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand News]]|date=16 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Chris|title=Apology lacking; voting rights to go|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/340734/apology-lacking-voting-rights-go|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=1 May 2015}}</ref> According to the ''[[Otago Daily Times]]'' journalist Kim Dungey, Vandervis was well known within Dunedin circles for his acrimonious relationship with Mayor Cull and several city councillors; taking issue with the council's alleged misspending of public money, the Cityfleet fraud case, and property speculation by Council's Delta Utility Services.<ref name="Fighting City Hall 2015" /> In addition, Vandervis has also opposed a 3.8% rates increase and has called for the council to cut back on staff numbers and to "be run more like a business."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goodwin|first1=Eileen|title=Council sets 3.8% rates rise|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/343296/council-sets-38-rates-rise|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=23 May 2015}}</ref>


===2016-2019 term===
===2016-2019 term===
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In mid-October 2020, independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg found that Vandervis had engaged in intimidatory behaviour during an argument with Deputy Mayor Christine Garey in late July 2020. While apologising for his conduct, Vandervis defended his efforts to hold city councillors and staff to account for allegedly "not doing their job."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Vandervis ruled in breach, on the mat |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-ruled-breach-mat |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027214245/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-ruled-breach-mat |archive-date=27 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> During a conduct hearing held on 27 October, Vandervis' fellow councillors called on him to apologise for his behaviour and seek professional help with anger management, with Mayor [[Aaron Hawkins (politician)|Aaron Hawkins]] likening him to a four-year old. Vandervis remained defiant during the hearing, alleging that the problem was council mismanagement and misrepresentation. The Dunedin City Council also warned Vandervis that they would revoke his membership of the [[Otago Museum]] Trust Board and the district licensing committee if a "suitable apology" was not delivered.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNeilly |first1=Hamish |title=Errant councillor asked to apologise after finger-wagging tirade against deputy mayor |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123211122/errant-councillor-asked-to-apologise-after-fingerwagging-tirade-against-deputy-mayor |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027215018/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123211122/errant-councillor-asked-to-apologise-after-fingerwagging-tirade-against-deputy-mayor |archive-date=27 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Councillors united against Vandervis |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/councillors-united-against-vandervis |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027215338/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/councillors-united-against-vandervis|archive-date=27 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
In mid-October 2020, independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg found that Vandervis had engaged in intimidatory behaviour during an argument with Deputy Mayor Christine Garey in late July 2020. While apologising for his conduct, Vandervis defended his efforts to hold city councillors and staff to account for allegedly "not doing their job."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Vandervis ruled in breach, on the mat |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-ruled-breach-mat |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027214245/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-ruled-breach-mat |archive-date=27 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> During a conduct hearing held on 27 October, Vandervis' fellow councillors called on him to apologise for his behaviour and seek professional help with anger management, with Mayor [[Aaron Hawkins (politician)|Aaron Hawkins]] likening him to a four-year old. Vandervis remained defiant during the hearing, alleging that the problem was council mismanagement and misrepresentation. The Dunedin City Council also warned Vandervis that they would revoke his membership of the [[Otago Museum]] Trust Board and the district licensing committee if a "suitable apology" was not delivered.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNeilly |first1=Hamish |title=Errant councillor asked to apologise after finger-wagging tirade against deputy mayor |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123211122/errant-councillor-asked-to-apologise-after-fingerwagging-tirade-against-deputy-mayor |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027215018/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123211122/errant-councillor-asked-to-apologise-after-fingerwagging-tirade-against-deputy-mayor |archive-date=27 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Councillors united against Vandervis |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/councillors-united-against-vandervis |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027215338/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/councillors-united-against-vandervis|archive-date=27 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>


In August 2021, Vandervis disagreed with the Dunedin City Council's proposal for a destination playground,{{ref|a}} instead advocating adventure playgrounds where children and young people can play with water, fire, and build with pallets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=Vision for play not matched |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vision-play-not-matched |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232249/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vision-play-not-matched |archive-date=4 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vandervis |first1=Lee |title=There is a lot to be said for adventure |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/there-lot-be-said-adventure |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=10 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819005505/https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/there-lot-be-said-adventure |archive-date=19 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Vandervis' views were supported by [[University of Otago]] geography Professor [[Claire Freeman]], who said that contemporary children experienced less freedom than previous generations, reducing their ability to handle risk.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=Councillor's 'risky play' approach finds support |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/councillor’s-‘risky-play’-approach-finds-support |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=7 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
In August 2021, Vandervis disagreed with the Dunedin City Council's proposal for a destination playground,{{ref|a}} instead advocating adventure playgrounds where children and young people can play with water, fire, and build with pallets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=Vision for play not matched |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vision-play-not-matched |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=4 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804232249/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vision-play-not-matched |archive-date=4 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vandervis |first1=Lee |title=There is a lot to be said for adventure |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/there-lot-be-said-adventure |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=10 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819005505/https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/there-lot-be-said-adventure |archive-date=19 August 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Vandervis' views were supported by [[University of Otago]] geography Professor [[Claire Freeman]], who said that contemporary children experienced less freedom than previous generations, reducing their ability to handle risk.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=Councillor's 'risky play' approach finds support |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/councillor’s-‘risky-play’-approach-finds-support |access-date=19 August 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=7 August 2021}}</ref>


In mid-September 2021, Vandervis attracted media attention and criticism after he published several [[COVID-19]]–related social media posts questioning the effectiveness of the [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine]] and advocating the use of the anti-parasitic drug [[Ivermectin]] for treating COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title='Provocative' Covid posts 'unhelpful' |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/%E2%80%98provocative%E2%80%99-covid-posts-%E2%80%98unhelpful%E2%80%99 |access-date=18 September 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915161920/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/%E2%80%98provocative%E2%80%99-covid-posts-%E2%80%98unhelpful%E2%80%99 |archive-date=15 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
In mid-September 2021, Vandervis attracted media attention and criticism after he published several [[COVID-19]]–related social media posts questioning the effectiveness of the [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine]] and advocating the use of the anti-parasitic drug [[Ivermectin]] for treating COVID-19.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title='Provocative' Covid posts 'unhelpful' |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/%E2%80%98provocative%E2%80%99-covid-posts-%E2%80%98unhelpful%E2%80%99 |access-date=18 September 2021 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915161920/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/%E2%80%98provocative%E2%80%99-covid-posts-%E2%80%98unhelpful%E2%80%99 |archive-date=15 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
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On 23 February 2022, Vandervis supported fellow councillor Andrew Whiley's motion for the Dunedin City Council to join "Communities 4 Local Democracy," a coalition of local bodies opposed to the Government's [[Water Services Reform Programme|Three Waters reform programme]]. The motion passed by a narrow margin of eight to seven votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=City joins 3 Waters protest |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/city-joins-3-waters-protest |access-date=15 March 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223033908/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/city-joins-3-waters-protest |archive-date=23 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 March, the DCC voted by a margin of seven to six to overturn their earlier decision to join "Communities 4 Local Democracy" following a breakdown in the Council's relationship with local Māori ''runanga'' (tribal councils). In response, Vandervis condemned the reversal as a rejection of local democracy in favour of "centralised control."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Poll: Three Waters backtrack |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/three-waters-backtrack |access-date=30 March 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=30 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330104134/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/three-waters-backtrack |archive-date=30 March 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Sinead |title=Mana whenua leave 'one sided' relationship with Dunedin council |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/128136924/mana-whenua-leave-one-sided-relationship-with-dunedin-council |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323232717/https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/128136924/mana-whenua-leave-one-sided-relationship-with-dunedin-council |archive-date=23 March 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 23 February 2022, Vandervis supported fellow councillor Andrew Whiley's motion for the Dunedin City Council to join "Communities 4 Local Democracy," a coalition of local bodies opposed to the Government's [[Water Services Reform Programme|Three Waters reform programme]]. The motion passed by a narrow margin of eight to seven votes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=City joins 3 Waters protest |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/city-joins-3-waters-protest |access-date=15 March 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=23 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223033908/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/city-joins-3-waters-protest |archive-date=23 February 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 March, the DCC voted by a margin of seven to six to overturn their earlier decision to join "Communities 4 Local Democracy" following a breakdown in the Council's relationship with local Māori ''runanga'' (tribal councils). In response, Vandervis condemned the reversal as a rejection of local democracy in favour of "centralised control."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Poll: Three Waters backtrack |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/three-waters-backtrack |access-date=30 March 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=30 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330104134/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/three-waters-backtrack |archive-date=30 March 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gill |first1=Sinead |title=Mana whenua leave 'one sided' relationship with Dunedin council |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/128136924/mana-whenua-leave-one-sided-relationship-with-dunedin-council |access-date=28 March 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323232717/https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/128136924/mana-whenua-leave-one-sided-relationship-with-dunedin-council |archive-date=23 March 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>


In late April 2022, Vandervis was identified as having personally edited his own Wikipedia page, in breach of Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|conflict of interest policy]]. His edits removed several relevant passages in the article, including references to various incidents that cast Vandervis in a negative light.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hendry-Tennent |first1=Ireland |last2=Swift |first2=Molly |title=Dunedin City Councillor Lee Vandervis caught editing own Wikipedia page claims he was fixing misinformation |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/04/dunedin-city-councillor-lee-vandervis-caught-editing-own-wikipedia-page-claims-he-was-fixing-misinformation.html |access-date=29 April 2021|work=[[Newshub]] |date=29 April 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> These edits were subsequently reversed.
In late April 2022, Vandervis was identified as having personally edited his own Wikipedia page, in breach of Wikipedia's [[Wikipedia:Conflict of interest|conflict of interest policy]]. His edits removed several relevant passages in the article, including references to various incidents that cast Vandervis in a negative light.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hendry-Tennent |first1=Ireland |last2=Swift |first2=Molly |title=Dunedin City Councillor Lee Vandervis caught editing own Wikipedia page claims he was fixing misinformation |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2022/04/dunedin-city-councillor-lee-vandervis-caught-editing-own-wikipedia-page-claims-he-was-fixing-misinformation.html |access-date=29 April 2021|work=[[Newshub]] |date=29 April 2022}}</ref> These edits were subsequently reversed.


In mid June 2022, Vandervis drew media attention when he questioned the facts of the [[September 11 attacks]], disputing official and eyewitness accounts that two planes had destroyed the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]]'s skyscrapers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Oscar |title=Vandervis questions 9/11 explanations |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-questions-911-explanations |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202934/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-questions-911-explanations |archive-date=21 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
In mid June 2022, Vandervis drew media attention when he questioned the facts of the [[September 11 attacks]], disputing official and eyewitness accounts that two planes had destroyed the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]]'s skyscrapers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Oscar |title=Vandervis questions 9/11 explanations |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-questions-911-explanations |access-date=4 July 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=20 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621202934/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/vandervis-questions-911-explanations |archive-date=21 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>


===2022–2025 term===
===2022–2025 term===
During the [[2022 Dunedin local elections]], Vandervis [[2022 Dunedin mayoral election|ran as Mayor]] and campaigned on reducing the city's projected debt of NZ$106 million and accused the Dunedin City Council of increasing debt each year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Vandervis questions debt levels |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/vandervis-questions-debt-levels |access-date=22 October 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012173530/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/vandervis-questions-debt-levels |archive-date=12 October 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Though he was defeated during the mayoral race, Lee Vandervis was re-elected as a city councillor.<ref>{{cite news |title=2022 Election results |url=https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2022-election-results |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=[[Dunedin City Council]] |date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103233810/https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2022-election-results |archive-date=3 November 2022}}</ref>
During the [[2022 Dunedin local elections]], Vandervis [[2022 Dunedin mayoral election|ran for Mayor]] and campaigned on reducing the city's projected debt of NZ$106 million and accused the Dunedin City Council of increasing debt each year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Vandervis questions debt levels |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/vandervis-questions-debt-levels |access-date=22 October 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012173530/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/vandervis-questions-debt-levels |archive-date=12 October 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Though he was defeated during the mayoral race, Lee Vandervis was re-elected as a city councillor.<ref>{{cite news |title=2022 Election results |url=https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2022-election-results |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=[[Dunedin City Council]] |date=31 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103233810/https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2022-election-results |archive-date=3 November 2022}}</ref>


On 19 October 2022, he was appointed by Mayor [[Jules Radich]] as chairman of finance and council-owned companies. In allocating Vandervis' appointment, Radich described Vandervis as an "astute communicator with constructive ideas" whose past conduct issues had been caused by frustration with the Council leadership.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Radich announces senior council roles |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/radich-announces-senior-council-roles |access-date=22 October 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020082247/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/radich-announces-senior-council-roles |archive-date=20 October 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> After he and his fellow councillors were sworn in on 27 October 2022, Vandervis was the only DCC member to oppose the [[Māori people|Māori]] ''runanga'' (tribal councils) Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki and Otakou sending representatives to participate in two Council committees.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Dunedin mayor and city councillors sworn in |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dunedin-mayor-and-city-councillors-sworn |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102231313/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dunedin-mayor-and-city-councillors-sworn |archive-date=2 November 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 19 October 2022, he was appointed by Mayor [[Jules Radich]] as chairman of finance and council-owned companies. In allocating Vandervis' appointment, Radich described Vandervis as an "astute communicator with constructive ideas" whose past conduct issues had been caused by frustration with the Council leadership.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Radich announces senior council roles |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/radich-announces-senior-council-roles |access-date=22 October 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020082247/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/radich-announces-senior-council-roles |archive-date=20 October 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> After he and his fellow councillors were sworn in on 27 October 2022, Vandervis was the only DCC member to oppose the [[Māori people|Māori]] ''runanga'' (tribal councils) Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki and Otakou sending representatives to participate in two Council committees.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Dunedin mayor and city councillors sworn in |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dunedin-mayor-and-city-councillors-sworn |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102231313/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dunedin-mayor-and-city-councillors-sworn |archive-date=2 November 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>


In late February 2023, the DCC voted to remove Vandervis as chair of the Council's Disability Issues Advisory Group following concerns raised by the Disabled Persons' Assembly due to Vandervis' remarks towards a disabled candidate named Joshua Perry during the 2016 local body elections. The Council subsequently appointed first-term councillor Mandy Mayhem to the position and reassigned Vandervis as the Council's representative to [[Age Concern]]. In response, Vandervis denied that he had intimidated Perry and claimed that their private conversation was being used against him as part of a smear campaign.<ref name="RNZ 28 Feb 2023">{{cite news |title=Dunedin councillor Lee Vandervis removed as chair of Disability Issues Advisory Group |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/485022/dunedin-councillor-lee-vandervis-removed-as-chair-of-disability-issues-advisory-group |access-date=25 March 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228062341/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/485022/dunedin-councillor-lee-vandervis-removed-as-chair-of-disability-issues-advisory-group |archive-date=28 February 2023}}</ref>
In late February 2023, the DCC voted to remove Vandervis as chair of the Council's Disability Issues Advisory Group following concerns raised by the Disabled Persons' Assembly due to Vandervis' remarks towards a disabled candidate named Joshua Perry during the 2016 local body elections. The Council subsequently appointed first-term councillor Mandy Mayhem to the position and reassigned Vandervis as the Council's representative to [[Age Concern]]. In response, Vandervis denied that he had intimidated Perry and claimed that their private conversation was being used against him as part of a smear campaign.<ref name="RNZ 28 Feb 2023">{{cite news |title=Dunedin councillor Lee Vandervis removed as chair of Disability Issues Advisory Group |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/485022/dunedin-councillor-lee-vandervis-removed-as-chair-of-disability-issues-advisory-group |access-date=25 March 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228062341/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/485022/dunedin-councillor-lee-vandervis-removed-as-chair-of-disability-issues-advisory-group |archive-date=28 February 2023}}</ref>

In late March 2023, Vandervis was the only member of the Dunedin City Council to accept an invitation to meet with [[Vision NZ]] founder [[Hannah Tamaki]] and her husband [[Brian Tamaki]], the founder and leader of [[Destiny Church (New Zealand)|Destiny Church]]. Following the meeting, 50 counter-demonstrators including fellow Dunedin councillors Steve Walker and Marie Laufiso held a rally to protest against the Tamaki's visit to Dunedin.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNeilly |first1=Hamish |title=Hannah and Brian Tamaki's meeting with Dunedin councillor sparks counter rally |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/131646963/hannah-and-brian-tamakis-meeting-with-dunedin-councillor-sparks-counter-rally |access-date=5 January 2024 |date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330124234/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/131646963/hannah-and-brian-tamakis-meeting-with-dunedin-councillor-sparks-counter-rally |archive-date=30 March 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early November 2023, Vandervis criticised a DCC draft submission about emergency management law during a council meeting, claiming that it had a disproportionate focus on "Māori inclusion, Māori remuneration and co-governance." During that meeting, Vandervis traded barbs with fellow councillor Laufiso, who accused him of racism. The Council's submission was subsequently approved by the Council with the exception of Vandervis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Dunedin City councillor accused of being ‘sexist, racist and ageist’ |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dunedin-city-councillor-accused-of-being-sexist-racist-and-ageist/6UDIH3QYZFBQTKGRFDJFN6ZIE4/ |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223050258/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dunedin-city-councillor-accused-of-being-sexist-racist-and-ageist/6UDIH3QYZFBQTKGRFDJFN6ZIE4/ |archive-date=23 December 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early January 2024, Laufiso laid a formal complaint against Vandervis for allegedly showing contempt towards [[Māori people]] by refusing to participate in a council forum called Te Pae Māori. Laufiso also claimed that Vandervis made disparaging remarks about Te Pae Māori, which constituted a breach of the DCC's code of conduct. In addition, Vandervis had objected to [[Claude Monet]]'s ''[[La Debacle]]'' work at the [[Dunedin Public Art Gallery]] being accompanied by what he regarded as an "irrelevant" [[Māori language]] text. On 3 January 2024, the DCC confirmed that it had appointed independent investigator Jonathan Boyle to investigate the complaint against Vandervis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=Complaint laid against Vandervis |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/complaint-laid-against-vandervis |access-date=5 January 2024 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=4 January 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In mid-March 2024, Vandervis was the sole councillor to oppose a DCC motion to adopt draft operating budgets for the purpose of community engagement. The Council had proposed increasing rates by 17.5%. In his response, Vandervis said that "what is evident to me is that we cannot wantonly spend our way to success. We cannot increase debt by over $100m a year to success."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title=DCC debates possible 17.5% rates increase |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dcc-debates-possible-175-rates-increase |access-date=15 March 2024 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=12 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312152710/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/dcc-debates-possible-175-rates-increase |archive-date=12 March 2024}}</ref>

On 29 May, Vandervis was the only member of the Dunedin City Council to vote against a motion asking the New Zealand government to create special visas for Palestinian refugees by a margin of 14 to one votes in response to the [[Israel-Hamas war]]. He said: "Taking international political positions is not the business of the council ... Why should we take Palestinian refugees when Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries are unwilling?"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Littlewood |first1=Matthew |title=Council pushes for Palestinian visa |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/council-pushes-palestinian-visa |access-date=31 May 2024 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=29 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529081427/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/council-pushes-palestinian-visa |archive-date=29 May 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On 31 July 2024, the independent investigator Jordan Boyle concluded that Vandervis had breached the DCC's code of conduct through an email he had sent on 16 July 2023, his non-attendance of Te Pae Māori meetings and for describing the council committee's mana whenua members as "anti-democratic" and "race-based" representation. The Council accepted Boyle's report and called upon Vandervis to apologise for his actions. Vandervis issued a prepared statement stating that "I vow to continue to exercise my right to free speech in the public interest and to be part of the diversity necessary for democratic representation on the Dunedin City Council."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Grant |title='It's about prejudice and bigotry': Vandervis complaint upheld |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/its-about-prejudice-and-bigotry-vandervis-complaint-upheld |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=31 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731060057/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/its-about-prejudice-and-bigotry-vandervis-complaint-upheld |archive-date=31 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Vandervis also doubled down on his remarks objecting to alleged "race-based" funding of Māori elites and jobs and accused his critics of being racist for allegedly labelling him "pale, stale, and male."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tomsett |first1=Ben |title=Dunedin councillor Lee Vandervis censured over Māori representation comments |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dunedin-councillor-lee-vandervis-censured-over-maori-representation-comments/LZEQUCROLNBS7E26H37ZK7LUZQ/ |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=31 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731043309/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dunedin-councillor-lee-vandervis-censured-over-maori-representation-comments/LZEQUCROLNBS7E26H37ZK7LUZQ/ |archive-date=31 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Mayor of Invercargill]] [[Nobby Clark (politician)|Nobby Clark]]'s partner Karen defended Vandervis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burns |first1=Adam |title=Nobby Clark defends partner over response to councillor Lee Vandervis' breach of conduct |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/523733/nobby-clark-defends-partner-over-response-to-councillor-lee-vandervis-breach-of-conduct |access-date=1 August 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=31 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731070820/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/523733/nobby-clark-defends-partner-over-response-to-councillor-lee-vandervis-breach-of-conduct |archive-date=31 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 25 September 2024, Vandervis and Deputy Mayor Cherry Lucas unsuccessfully voted against a Council motion to retain council ownership of energy company [[Aurora Energy (New Zealand)|Aurora Energy]], describing Aurora as a "[[Rolls Royce]], high cost, high maintenance vehicle when the DCC can only afford to run a [[Toyota]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Dunedin City Council votes to keep hold of Aurora Energy |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/529005/dunedin-city-council-votes-to-keep-hold-of-aurora-energy |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925031200/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/529005/dunedin-city-council-votes-to-keep-hold-of-aurora-energy |archive-date=25 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Latest revision as of 03:31, 19 October 2024

Lee Vandervis
Councillor for the Dunedin City Council
Assumed office
2004
Personal details
Born1955 (age 68–69)
Balclutha, New Zealand
OccupationBusinessman, politician
Known forDunedin mayoral candidate
Opponent of Forsyth Barr Stadium
WebsiteOfficial website

Lee Vandervis (born 1955) is a local-body politician who was first elected to the Dunedin City Council in the 2004 local elections. Vandervis has run for mayor in 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022; finishing second in 2007 and 2019. Vandervis failed to win mayor again in 2022, but he was re-elected to the Council. [1]

Early life and career

[edit]

Lee Vandervis was born in 1955[2][better source needed] in Balclutha. He is the second son of Dutch immigrant parents.[2][better source needed] Vandervis received a BA in Philosophy from the University of Otago, and has worked as a music technician. In the mid 1970s he went to the United Kingdom and worked as an acoustic engineer for Midas Audio. In 1981, Vandervis returned to Dunedin and set up Vandervision Lighting Audio and Video in the early 1980s.[2][better source needed][3]

Politics

[edit]

At the 1984 New Zealand general election Vandervis stood for Bob Jones' New Zealand Party in the Dunedin North electorate. He polled in third place.[4]

2004–2013 terms

[edit]

In 2004 Vandervis successfully stood for the Dunedin City as a Council councillor and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor coming third with 9.1% of the vote.[5] In the 2007 election he stood on a platform opposing then proposed replacement stadium for Carisbrook. He was defeated both as a councillor (by a margin of four votes after the counting of the special votes), as well as a mayoral candidate.[6][7] He came second after the incumbent, Peter Chin, but only gained 17% of the votes.[7] During the 2010 election campaign one of his volunteers installing an election hoarding pierced an 11 kV cable near Mosgiel causing a power outage to 747 consumers. The site had been designated for hoarding by the Council, but no mention of the presence of the cable had been made; the volunteer was unharmed.[8] Vandervis was again third in the Mayoral race with 15.2% of the vote. He was re-elected as a Councillor.

Vandervis served as the Chair of the Dunedin City Council Heritage Fund and the Heritage Buildings Re-use Committee.He resigned from that role on 22 September 2020. [citation needed] He is also on the Board of the Otago Settlers Museum.[citation needed]

Vandervis states that he is focused on challenging misrepresented projects and bureaucratic waste.[7][9] At times he is controversial. His criticism of Community Board's being a waste of time raised their ire.[10] He has also had clashes over bus shelters,[11] criticised Council's financial management – especially the $480,000 bailout of the Otago Rugby Union,[12][13] and faced criticism over his suggestion that Christchurch's earthquake rebuild could be shifted to Dunedin.[14]

Vandervis has suggested that Christchurch's proposed stadium would be a waste of money.[15] His comments were based on his experience with Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.[16] Vandervis supports the rebuild of the Christchurch Cathedral, which was partially destroyed in the earthquakes.[17]

2013–2016 term

[edit]

Lee Vandervis stood for re-election in the October 2013 local election as a Dunedin City Councillor; he also contested the Dunedin mayoralty for the fourth time.[18] He was elected as to Council and placed third for the mayoralty.[19] The Mayor, Dave Cull, did not appoint Vandervis to any committees, commenting that he had no confidence he could contribute constructively, nor maintain any of the relationships needed to do the work effectively.[20]

On 16 March 2015, Lee Vandervis was subject to a code of conduct hearing dealing with three complaints against him for his alleged bullying, aggressive, and misleading behaviour. Vandervis has defended his actions. The city councillor had been involved in an argument with the Dunedin City Council's chief executive Dr Sue Bidrose and had criticised the council and the local police's investigation of the illegal sale of 150 the Council's Cityfleet vehicles to local residents. On 1 May 2015, Vandervis was temporarily stripped of his voting rights after failing to apologise for these actions.[21][22] According to the Otago Daily Times journalist Kim Dungey, Vandervis was well known within Dunedin circles for his acrimonious relationship with Mayor Cull and several city councillors; taking issue with the council's alleged misspending of public money, the Cityfleet fraud case, and property speculation by Council's Delta Utility Services.[3] In addition, Vandervis has also opposed a 3.8% rates increase and has called for the council to cut back on staff numbers and to "be run more like a business."[23]

2016-2019 term

[edit]

In October 2016, Vandervis contested the 2016 mayoral and local elections. Though he was not elected as Mayor, Vandervis was re-elected to the Dunedin City Council as a councillor.[24]

In July 2017, Vandervis settled a defamation lawsuit against Mayor Cull for NZ$50,000 due to legal delays and spiralling costs. Vandervis had sued Cull following an exchange in December 2015 in which Vandervis alleged that Cull paid a bribe to secure a council contract in the 1980s. Vandervis claimed that Cull, in his response to the allegations, had defamed him. Vandervis originally sought NZ$250,000 in general damages and NZ$250,000 in exemplary damages along with legal costs. The lawsuit was settled without an apology.[25]

In late August 2019, the Otago Daily Times reported that Vandervis was the subject of 11 complaints of inappropriate behaviour, angry and shouting, insulting, threatening, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, and intimidating behaviour against several Dunedin City Council staff members and members of the public. Vandervis was also criticised by Mayor Cull and several fellow councillors including Rachel Elder, Aaron Hawkins, and Mike Lord for alleged bullying and intimidating behaviour.[26][27] In response, Vandervis defended his actions and claimed that he was the victim of a smear campaign timed to coincide with the 2019 Dunedin mayoral election.[28] In early September 2019, Vandervis drew criticism when he made remarks that young voters were ignorant or did not care about candidates during a mayoral debate organised by the Otago University Students' Association.[29] Vandervis subsequently apologised for his remarks.[30]

2019–2022 parking ticket dispute

[edit]

In mid-September 2019, a twelfth complaint was lodged against Vandervis after he allegedly verbally abused some DCC staff members over a parking ticket.[31][32] Vandervis contested the complaint and uploaded a CCTV video on social media to support his claim that he did not verbally abuse. David Benham, chairman of the Otago Regional Council's audit and risk subcommittee, was tasked with conducting an independent investigation into the matter.[33] On 10 December, Vandervis was censured by his fellow councillors for the parking ticket incident. In response, he alleged that his privacy was breached at a critical time of the election campaign.[34]

Vandveris litigated the censure and code of conduct review through a 2020 judicial review at the High Court, and in March 2022 appealed the result of this to the Court of Appeal, New Zealand's principal intermediate appellate court. The Court of Appeal agreed with both the judicial review and the initial process that the Council had followed, with the exception of noting that Vandervis should have received a written copy of the allegation made against him.[35][36] In June 2022 the Dunedin City Council was awarded costs of $101,682.85.[35][37]

In July 2022 Vandervis sought leave from the Supreme Court of New Zealand to hear the case.[38] The Supreme Court rejected Vandervis' legal team's application for leave to appeal his parking ticket fine in September. The Supreme Court also upheld the Court of Appeal's decision to uphold Vandervis' ticket fine.[1]

2019–2022 term

[edit]

On 12 October 2019, Vandervis was re-elected to the Dunedin City Council as a councillor but lost the mayoral contest to Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand candidate Aaron Hawkins.[39][40]

In mid-October 2020, independent investigator Steph Dyhrberg found that Vandervis had engaged in intimidatory behaviour during an argument with Deputy Mayor Christine Garey in late July 2020. While apologising for his conduct, Vandervis defended his efforts to hold city councillors and staff to account for allegedly "not doing their job."[41] During a conduct hearing held on 27 October, Vandervis' fellow councillors called on him to apologise for his behaviour and seek professional help with anger management, with Mayor Aaron Hawkins likening him to a four-year old. Vandervis remained defiant during the hearing, alleging that the problem was council mismanagement and misrepresentation. The Dunedin City Council also warned Vandervis that they would revoke his membership of the Otago Museum Trust Board and the district licensing committee if a "suitable apology" was not delivered.[42][43]

In August 2021, Vandervis disagreed with the Dunedin City Council's proposal for a destination playground,[1] instead advocating adventure playgrounds where children and young people can play with water, fire, and build with pallets.[44][45] Vandervis' views were supported by University of Otago geography Professor Claire Freeman, who said that contemporary children experienced less freedom than previous generations, reducing their ability to handle risk.[46]

In mid-September 2021, Vandervis attracted media attention and criticism after he published several COVID-19–related social media posts questioning the effectiveness of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and advocating the use of the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin for treating COVID-19.[47]

In early October 2021, Vandervis led an anti-lockdown "Families Freedom Picnic" that was held in Dunedin's Queens Gardens. During the protest, Vandervis spoke about the effects of lockdown regulations on local businesses, freedom of speech, and the pressure to be vaccinated.[48]

In November 2021 Vandervis voted against a proposed rainbow pedestrian crossing (styled after the Cuba Street rainbow crossing).[49] The proposal was initiated by Dudley Benson, to create a visual representation of Dunedin's queer community and stand against bullying, homophobia and transphobia.[50] A petition in support for the crossing received 6,502 signatures.[51][52] As the only councillor of 14 who voted against the proposal,[53][54][55] Vandervis said: "To me, this is quite seriously a piece of ridiculous PC virtue signalling."[49] Deputy Mayor Christine Garey said Vandervis' comments regarding the proposal were ‘‘offensive and embarrassing in 2021 in our city’’.[56]

In early December 2021, Vandervis objected to the Dunedin City Council's vaccine pass requirement for accessing council premises and services as part of the New Zealand Government's COVID-19 Protection Framework. Since Vandervis had chosen not to get vaccinated for COVID-19, he was only allowed to attend virtual council meetings. He claimed that the Governments' COVID-19 policies breached the right to refuse medical treatment under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, free speech, lawful assembly, and justice.[57] On 7 December, Vandervis was trespassed from the Dunedin City Council for three months after attempting to attend meeting without a COVID-19 vaccine pass. Vandervis objected to the trespass notice, claiming that access to essential services could not be restricted based on vaccine status.[58]

On 23 February 2022, Vandervis supported fellow councillor Andrew Whiley's motion for the Dunedin City Council to join "Communities 4 Local Democracy," a coalition of local bodies opposed to the Government's Three Waters reform programme. The motion passed by a narrow margin of eight to seven votes.[59] On 29 March, the DCC voted by a margin of seven to six to overturn their earlier decision to join "Communities 4 Local Democracy" following a breakdown in the Council's relationship with local Māori runanga (tribal councils). In response, Vandervis condemned the reversal as a rejection of local democracy in favour of "centralised control."[60][61]

In late April 2022, Vandervis was identified as having personally edited his own Wikipedia page, in breach of Wikipedia's conflict of interest policy. His edits removed several relevant passages in the article, including references to various incidents that cast Vandervis in a negative light.[62] These edits were subsequently reversed.

In mid June 2022, Vandervis drew media attention when he questioned the facts of the September 11 attacks, disputing official and eyewitness accounts that two planes had destroyed the World Trade Center's skyscrapers.[63]

2022–2025 term

[edit]

During the 2022 Dunedin local elections, Vandervis ran for Mayor and campaigned on reducing the city's projected debt of NZ$106 million and accused the Dunedin City Council of increasing debt each year.[64] Though he was defeated during the mayoral race, Lee Vandervis was re-elected as a city councillor.[65]

On 19 October 2022, he was appointed by Mayor Jules Radich as chairman of finance and council-owned companies. In allocating Vandervis' appointment, Radich described Vandervis as an "astute communicator with constructive ideas" whose past conduct issues had been caused by frustration with the Council leadership.[66] After he and his fellow councillors were sworn in on 27 October 2022, Vandervis was the only DCC member to oppose the Māori runanga (tribal councils) Kati Huirapa ki Puketeraki and Otakou sending representatives to participate in two Council committees.[67]

In late February 2023, the DCC voted to remove Vandervis as chair of the Council's Disability Issues Advisory Group following concerns raised by the Disabled Persons' Assembly due to Vandervis' remarks towards a disabled candidate named Joshua Perry during the 2016 local body elections. The Council subsequently appointed first-term councillor Mandy Mayhem to the position and reassigned Vandervis as the Council's representative to Age Concern. In response, Vandervis denied that he had intimidated Perry and claimed that their private conversation was being used against him as part of a smear campaign.[68]

In late March 2023, Vandervis was the only member of the Dunedin City Council to accept an invitation to meet with Vision NZ founder Hannah Tamaki and her husband Brian Tamaki, the founder and leader of Destiny Church. Following the meeting, 50 counter-demonstrators including fellow Dunedin councillors Steve Walker and Marie Laufiso held a rally to protest against the Tamaki's visit to Dunedin.[69]

In early November 2023, Vandervis criticised a DCC draft submission about emergency management law during a council meeting, claiming that it had a disproportionate focus on "Māori inclusion, Māori remuneration and co-governance." During that meeting, Vandervis traded barbs with fellow councillor Laufiso, who accused him of racism. The Council's submission was subsequently approved by the Council with the exception of Vandervis.[70]

In early January 2024, Laufiso laid a formal complaint against Vandervis for allegedly showing contempt towards Māori people by refusing to participate in a council forum called Te Pae Māori. Laufiso also claimed that Vandervis made disparaging remarks about Te Pae Māori, which constituted a breach of the DCC's code of conduct. In addition, Vandervis had objected to Claude Monet's La Debacle work at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery being accompanied by what he regarded as an "irrelevant" Māori language text. On 3 January 2024, the DCC confirmed that it had appointed independent investigator Jonathan Boyle to investigate the complaint against Vandervis.[71]

In mid-March 2024, Vandervis was the sole councillor to oppose a DCC motion to adopt draft operating budgets for the purpose of community engagement. The Council had proposed increasing rates by 17.5%. In his response, Vandervis said that "what is evident to me is that we cannot wantonly spend our way to success. We cannot increase debt by over $100m a year to success."[72]

On 29 May, Vandervis was the only member of the Dunedin City Council to vote against a motion asking the New Zealand government to create special visas for Palestinian refugees by a margin of 14 to one votes in response to the Israel-Hamas war. He said: "Taking international political positions is not the business of the council ... Why should we take Palestinian refugees when Egypt, Jordan and other Arab countries are unwilling?"[73]

On 31 July 2024, the independent investigator Jordan Boyle concluded that Vandervis had breached the DCC's code of conduct through an email he had sent on 16 July 2023, his non-attendance of Te Pae Māori meetings and for describing the council committee's mana whenua members as "anti-democratic" and "race-based" representation. The Council accepted Boyle's report and called upon Vandervis to apologise for his actions. Vandervis issued a prepared statement stating that "I vow to continue to exercise my right to free speech in the public interest and to be part of the diversity necessary for democratic representation on the Dunedin City Council."[74] Vandervis also doubled down on his remarks objecting to alleged "race-based" funding of Māori elites and jobs and accused his critics of being racist for allegedly labelling him "pale, stale, and male."[75] The Mayor of Invercargill Nobby Clark's partner Karen defended Vandervis.[76]

On 25 September 2024, Vandervis and Deputy Mayor Cherry Lucas unsuccessfully voted against a Council motion to retain council ownership of energy company Aurora Energy, describing Aurora as a "Rolls Royce, high cost, high maintenance vehicle when the DCC can only afford to run a Toyota."[77]

Personal life

[edit]

Vandervis is twice married and has eight children.[78] He also has a severely autistic son.[68]

References

[edit]
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Notes

[edit]
1.^ "Destination playgrounds are typically larger playgrounds set in a location that may require a drive to reach."[1]
[edit]
News
  1. ^ "DESTINATION PLAYGROUNDS". Play and Playground Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19 August 2021.