Councillor resigns after admitting drink driving charge

Cr Anna Park

Councillor Anna Park has resigned from her position.

The Taupō District Council confirmed on Friday afternoon that it had received the resignation of Park.

“Anna has been a long-serving councillor with nearly 15 years as an elected member and we appreciate the huge contribution she has made to our community,” the council said in a statement.

In the Auckland District Court last week, Park admitted to driving with excess breath alcohol on Saturday, November 9 last year.

Her resignation is within 12 months of local government elections so does not trigger a by-election; instead, chief executive Julie Gardyne has informed the council and a paper will go to the next council meeting outlining the options, which are the appointment of an interim councillor or to have the position remain vacant until local elections in October.

Mayor David Trewavas acknowledged Park’s resignation and thanked her for her work of over four terms at council.

“Anna is a long-serving councillor and we acknowledge the significant contribution she has made to our community. We wish her all the very best.”

In a statement Park said she was proud of the work she had done on the council over the past 15 years.

“It had been an honour to serve this beautiful, energetic and resilient district for the past near 15 years.

“I am incredibly proud of the many legacy projects I have been a part of as a councillor and the positive impact this work has achieved.”

However, she said it was “no longer tenable under the Local Government Act” to continue as a councillor.

“I have therefore tendered my resignation effective immediately

“It is important to me to uphold the integrity of the council and avoid any further distraction from its important work.

“I accept this legal consequence following my regrettable lack of judgement last November.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to residents and ratepayers, colleagues, and the wider community for their trust and support over the years.

“It has been a privilege to serve in a role I have dearly loved. I kindly ask that my family’s privacy be respected during this time, including on social media. While public scrutiny comes with public service, it would be extremely unfair for my loved ones to have to endure the consequences of my actions. I would appreciate understanding and respect for them.”

Park was convicted of drink driving three times previously with the last offence in 2006.

The offence is punishable by up to two years' imprisonment, a one-year disqualification or up to $6000 fine.

Under the Local Government Act 2002 a councillor convicted of a crime punishable by two years' imprisonment or more must vacate office.

Drink driving conviction

In a previous statement issued by her lawyer following her admission of guilt in the Auckland District Court, Park said she deeply regretted her actions.

“My decision could have endangered others and, even though I was alone in the car, the risk I took was unacceptable.”

Park, in court under the surname Pickering, made the plea in the Auckland District Court on February 28, having been charged with driving on Wairakei Drive while the proportion of alcohol in her breath was 804 micrograms per litre of breath. The legal limit is 250mcg for drivers over 20, or 400mcg to avoid a conviction.

The charge sheet also stated that she had been convicted at least twice previously of drink driving offences.

Park was first elected to the Taupō District Council in 2010 and is one of the council’s longest serving representatives, having served 14 years, five months. She was the first sitting councillor to have a child while in office.

In the statement Park said she did not seek name suppression because she believed in being fully accountable and taking responsibility for her actions.

“I sought to protect my family from undue public attention by having the case heard out of town. This does not diminish my accountability in any way - this mistake was mine alone, and I did not want those closest to me to suffer because of it. 

“I am deeply sorry for the disappointment and hurt my actions have caused to my family, friends, colleagues, and the wider community. 

“I am committed to learning from this mistake and earning back the trust I have lost.”

Park was well regarded within the council as a hard-working councillor and a possible future mayor.

Park has looked after the youth, sports and recreation portfolios as part of her duties.

Currently she is the lead of the International Relations portfolio and an associate for the Economic and Business portfolio.

She was the chairperson of the Emergency Management Committee and a member of the District Dog Control Committee, Risk and Assurance Committee, Taupō Reserves and Roading Committee and is on the Mangakino-Pouakani Representative Group and Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (WCDEM).

Previously, she was an electorate agent to Taupō Member of Parliament Louise Upston at parliament from 2009-2011, working in parliament for a total of five years before her election as a district councillor.