A Porirua City Council meeting was cut short last Thursday after a heated exchange involving former deputy mayor Liz Kelly, who was ejected from the chamber following interjections from the public gallery during a debate on Wellington Water.
The meeting, which was livestreamed, featured a submission from Kelly on behalf of the Porirua Whānau Centre, where she serves as chief executive. The submission focused on the centre’s high rates, concerns around ongoing water reform, and the performance of Wellington Water — a utility currently under scrutiny after two critical reports released earlier this month.
Tensions rose as councillors debated a proposal by Councillor Kathleen Filo — Kelly’s daughter — to launch an independent investigation into the utility. During the discussion, Kelly stood and was heard calling the meeting “a circus.” Chairperson Josh Trlin adjourned the meeting and cut the livestream, citing repeated interjections despite warnings.
Porirua City Council chief executive Wendy Walker said Kelly had been asked to leave the chamber and that staff stepped in to ensure no one approached the mayor. “The remarks were angry, disrespectful and personally targeted at Mayor Baker,” she said.
Walker confirmed she contacted both Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau, with Kelly often publicly identified as a pouiwi (iwi representative) on Wellington City Council.
Kelly has since issued a formal response, stating she attended the meeting in her capacity as CEO of the Porirua Whānau Centre, not as a pouiwi. In an email sent to The Post prior to publication, she wrote:
“I presented to PCC this morning in opposition to Mayor Baker’s position regarding Item 2 on their agenda – WWL report. I was wearing a different hat that was very relevant to the agenda item.”
She criticised The Post for using a misleading headline and a photo of her seated at a Wellington City Council meeting alongside iwi representatives. She said the portrayal wrongly suggested she was acting on behalf of Ngāti Toa or Wellington City Council at the Porirua meeting.
“The March 18 story demonstrates yet again a pattern of uncritical acceptance of accusations against me,” she wrote, adding that both she and Ngāti Toa CEO Helmut Modlik had made clear statements that were only included at the end of The Post’s article.
Modlik, who is also Kelly’s brother, said she had expressed regret over how events unfolded and confirmed that she was not representing the iwi during the submission.
Debate continues despite disruption
Despite the disruption, Filo’s motion to initiate an investigation into Wellington Water was passed. Mayor Baker later described Kelly’s conduct in text messages as “truly terrible,” claiming the criticism was personal and unprovoked.
Kelly, however, insists her remarks were directed at what she viewed as a procedural manoeuvre by the mayor to end discussion. “As I was walking out, I said, ‘What a circus.’ At no stage did I take part in heckling, nor did I approve of it,” she said.
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau said she would follow up with Kelly and Councillor Tim Brown, who was also in attendance.