Auckland, Jul 17, 2017 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pro-democracy lobby group, Democracy Action, says that details reported by Radio New Zealand this morning, which allege Horowhenua District Council CEO David Clapperton has been surreptitiously intercepting and blocking emails sent and received by elected officials amount to serious misconduct and, if true, warrant his immediate resignation.

Democracy Action Spokesman, Lee Short, says, "It is simply extraordinary that a Council CEO could intercept emails with the support of the Council's IT staff. This breaches the confidence of every citizen who has emailed elected officials."

"It is vital to democracy that citizens are able to communicate freely with their elected representatives. This is a major breach of trust and suggests a disregard of democracy and elected governance."

ENDS