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Rosa Woods / Stuff
Let’s Get Wellington Moving program director Andrew Body told a local businesswoman that she looked “better in the newspapers than in real life.” (File photo)
A comment made by the director of Wellington’s $ 6.4 billion transportation program to a businesswoman at a public meeting has been deemed “sexist” and inappropriate by some attendees.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) program director Andrew Body made the comment to a downtown businesswoman during a public meeting in July to discuss companies’ concerns about plans to restrict private vehicle access to along the Golden Mile of the capital.
After the formal part of the meeting, Body told the woman, that Stuff has chosen not to name: “You look better in the newspaper than in real life.”
Body said Stuff When contacted the day after the incident, he sent the woman an apologetic email, describing his comments as “too frivolous.”
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He said he reached out to the woman about his concerns and, while greeting, noted her comments in the media and praised her photo.
Documents obtained under the Official information law reveal that Body alerted members of the LGWM association board to the incident after a consultation from Stuff and only apologized once he was contacted by Stuff.
In an email, Body apologized to members for “any negative issues this may create.”
Kevin Stent / Stuff
The comments were made at a meeting to discuss the future of Wellington’s Golden Mile. (File photo)
A spokesperson for LGWM said Body admitted in the email to making the specific comment, information that was removed in the OIA document.
When he asked again for Stuff if he denied making the comment, Body said he acknowledged that the comment was “careless” and that he “wanted to express again how sorry I am.”
Ross Giblin / Stuff
Two of the three options propose to eliminate general traffic from the area and close access to most of the side streets. (File photo)
However, a witness to the incident claimed that the comment was sexist and inappropriate.
She was sitting at a table with a few others when Body approached them, she said.
“[The woman] He was the most outspoken person there, he had a solid list of complaints and concerns.
“In light of that context, starting your conversation with her with a comment about her appearance… I think that creates an imbalance of power as well.
Monique Ford / Stuff
Wellington City Council Executive Director Barbara McKerrow called an urgent meeting of LGWM board members after Body alerted members to the incident. (File photo)
“Given that context, it is inappropriate.”
He wondered if Body had made the same comment to a man.
“When you make a comment about a woman’s appearance in a professional situation, it’s an absolute no-no.”
Another person, who did not hear the comment directly, said that the people at the table were shocked.
“When he left, the people in that circle turned around and said, ‘Did you hear that? Are we in the 1950s? People were a bit stunned. “
The woman to whom the comment was directed agreed that it was sexist and felt it was meant. “It certainly wasn’t frivolous. It was more malicious. “
When asked if he thought the comment was malicious or sexist, Body said he had nothing to add to his earlier statement.
The incident also led to a complaint from another business representative at the meeting, seen by Stuff, raising “broader concerns about the confrontational nature of [Body’s] interaction in stages during the meeting and after ”.
Following Body’s email to the LGWM board, Wellington City Council Executive Director Barbara McKerrow, one of four board members, called for an urgent membership meeting to discuss her response to Body, as well as other concerns. about the group’s dealings with the public.
They included how public consultation was handled and criticism from “many other sources” about flaws in the feedback process.
McKerrow said the problem was especially serious “given the high profile of this project in a sensitive decision-making environment.”
Let’s Get Wellington Moving is a 20-year joint program between the New Zealand Transportation Agency, Wellington City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council aimed at reducing traffic congestion between Wellington Airport and Ngauranga Gorge.
