Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong to run as independent for Parliament
Thursday 24 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story NZME, Dunedin City Council, Benedict Ong
First-term Dunedin City councillor Benedict Ong has announced he will contest the Dunedin electorate as an independent in the November general election. Ong stated that political attacks and bans have prevented him from performing his current council duties.
Key facts
5 facts
- Benedict Ong is a first-term Dunedin City councillor
- Ong will run as an independent for the Dunedin electorate
- The general election is scheduled for November
- Councillors voted 10-2 for Ong to resign in March
- The University of Otago issued a trespass notice against Ong this month
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
Dunedin City councillor Benedict Ong has announced he will contest the Dunedin electorate as an independent candidate in the November general election. He shared the news via a social media post.
Ong stated that he wants to do more for his hometown and assist in delivering results. He claimed that "malicious falsehoods and political attacks" have prevented him from performing his current duties.
The councillor's term has involved several code of conduct complaints. In March, a 10-2 vote by councillors requested his resignation, which he refused. Earlier this year, he was removed from a council meeting with tape over his mouth.
The University of Otago recently trespassed Ong following reports from the students' association regarding two alleged incidents of unwanted physical contact or closeness during a campus protest.
Where reports differ
- One report specifies the announcement was made on Facebook, while another refers to it generally as a social media post
Compiled from reports by 1News and NZ Herald.