Nick Mills: Tory Whanau needs to resign both for her own health and the good of our city

Wellington, we have a problem.

On Wednesday night I attended a Christmas function, and there was only one topic of conversation.

Apparently there's a video floating around of Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau at a bar which doesn't make for good viewing.

And now, she finds herself forced to defend drunken behaviour yet again.

She's come out and said she is flawed, but deeply cares about the city.

She's even admitted she has a problem with alcohol.

Remember four months ago Tory was on this show and said she'd no longer be mixing alcohol with her socialising in public.

I can remember like it was yesterday.

She looked me straight in the eye and I thought, good on you Tory.

Well last night in a statement Whanau said it was to her great embarrassment and shame, that her drunkenness seemed to have been recorded.

She also said she wasn't a career politician, and leadership positions in public office are not built for regular people who may have struggles with addictions, mental health issues or any other illness that has a stigma attached.

I'm sorry Tory, but on many occasions you have told me and this show that you are a career politician.

You had leadership positions within the Green Party, and you've have controlled the egos of many people in leadership positions.

You've said you were built for this.

Don't tell us now that's changed.

The most important thing right now is getting Tory the help she needs. That should be our first priority.

But if we thought we had problems with our city council before last night, it's just been exacerbated.

As a brand, this is embarrassing.

And for former Mayor Justin Lester to describe Whanau as a wonderful ambassador for Wellington, is ridiculous.

What rock are you living under Justin?

Anyone talking about Wellington, anywhere in the world today, will be talking about our mayor and her behaviour.

This is not great for our city in anyway, and for a former mayor to condone behaviour or the abuse of alcohol, is disappointing.

As a city we have a number of serious issues, and the latest supposed indiscretion by our mayor has set us back further.

So the the big question that faces us now, is whether Tory needs to resign and step down.

Personally I think she does need to resign.

I think she needs to resign both for her own health, and the good of our city.

It's a sad sad day, but I think the job is just too much for her right now.

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