Ray Chung email controversy, Wellington mayoral race

The story so far

Wellington councillor and mayoral candidate Ray Chung faced backlash in July 2025 after a 2023 email to councillors surfaced, containing unsubstantiated sexual rumours about Mayor Tory Whanau.^{11 Jul 2025} Whanau rejected the email's contents as false and malicious and sought legal advice, while a donor withdrew support for Chung's campaign.^{11, 14 Jul 2025} Politicians from several parties, including Porirua Mayor Anita Baker, condemned the email, but Chung said he was the victim of a smear campaign and stayed in the race.^{12, 14, 15 Jul 2025} Chung's final roadshow event was cut short by hecklers, and candidates Lily Brown, Andrea Compton and Dan Milward left his Independent Together group.^{16, 17 Jul 2025} Chung apologised for the lewd email, which the mayor accepted, and the council chief executive will not investigate ten complaints, in order to prioritise council unity.^{25 Jul 2025}

Latest

The council chief executive will not investigate ten complaints about the email, and the mayor has accepted Chung's apology.^{25 Jul 2025}

Key moments

1. 11 Jul 2025Email with unsubstantiated sexual rumours about Mayor Whanau surfaces
2. 14 Jul 2025Whanau rejects email as false and malicious; council CEO investigating
3. 15 Jul 2025Senior National and Labour MPs criticise Chung's behaviour as disgraceful
4. 16 Jul 2025Final roadshow event ended early after shouting and assault accusations
5. 17 Jul 2025Andrea Compton and Dan Milward leave Independent Together group
6. 25 Jul 2025Chief executive won't investigate ten complaints; Chung apologises, mayor accepts

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.