The Horowhenua CEO David Clapperton is demanding that KIN retract an article about a proposed Auditor-General’s inquiry into the sale of Horowhenua District Council pensioner housing. (See May 8)
Mr Clapperton says: ‘I am writing to alert you to the fact that an article on your website written by Veronica Harrod is false and misleading.
‘The article states:
“The Office of the Auditor General has agreed to investigate the sale by Horowhenua District Council of its pensioner housing portfolio and “related potential conflicts of interest.”
‘The article itself then goes on to say the Office of the Auditor General is ‘considering matters’.
‘It appears that your correspondent and therefore Kapiti Independent News do not understand the terminology used and are perpetuating a false claim.
‘We request that Kapiti Independent News, as a responsible publisher, remove the offending article.
‘Please advise of your actions. Later today (8/5/18), in the event that no response has been received from Kapiti Independent News, Horowhenua District Council will alert the Office of the Auditor General and refer the matter to its legal team.’
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Good on Veronica. Clapperton’s bumptious, aggressive reaction shows that she has hit a raw nerve. These top public bureaucrats are inevitable enemies of openness and transparency.
To use his own logic – What would Mr Clapperton be worried about if there was nothing to hide?
All he did was sell ratepayers assets for a fraction of what they were worth with the full backing of ‘The Nine’ (who fully supported the architect of this plan, the previous mayor Mr Duffy).