The chair of the West Coast Regional Council, Peter Haddock (R) says his recent hospital stay was nothing to do with an alleged altercation between the council's former chair Allan Birchfield (L) and another councillor. Photo: LDR / Supplied
West Coast Regional Council chairman Peter Haddock says he is recovering well from an infection, and his recent hospital stay was nothing to do with an alleged altercation involving the council's former chairman on 5 May.
Haddock was admitted to hospital hours after an alleged incident between former chairman Allan Birchfield and Remuneration and Employment Committee chairman Frank Dooley - just prior to the interview of three candidates for the chief executive vacancy.
Current CEO Heather Mabin has subsequently triggered a formal investigation into the incident following a complaint from Birchfield, who alleges he was unjustly excluded from the interview panel and that Haddock could have intervened.
Haddock said he was annoyed at the subsequent publicity which he described as "a storm in a teacup" - and it had nothing to do with why he had needed to go to hospital.
"We're trying to get on with the job and we're going to do that. We've made a lot of progress - we're really trying to make inroads into things. Unfortunately all we're getting is negative press."
Haddock acknowledged the whole affair had triggered rumour about his well-being, which had unnecessarily worried others.
"My little health issue was nothing to do with the council or with the (panel) meeting," he said.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
