Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has rejected a finding that he breached the council’s code of conduct by describing a public broadcaster employee as a “Muslim terrorist,” despite an independent investigation concluding his remarks brought the council into disrepute.

The Conduct Commission inquiry focused on comments Brown made to a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) staff member during a visit to the broadcaster’s Auckland office, where he was being escorted by security. The investigation was initiated following a public complaint that the mayor’s words could contribute to the normalization of racism, hate, and discrimination.

The RNZ employee, who is of Indian descent, reportedly remarked on the tight security at the premises. Brown responded with a comment along the lines of: “security can’t be very tight if we’re being escorted by a Muslim terrorist.” He also made a remark about the employee’s beard. Brown later insisted he did not call the man a terrorist but said the individual “looked like one,” asserting that his comments were meant as a joke.

Conduct Commissioner Paul Collins determined that Brown’s remark was an insulting and material breach of the council’s code of conduct, which emphasises the principle of respect. Collins found that although the incident was isolated, it constituted harassment and represented a significant departure from expected standards. Despite the breach, no formal sanctions were imposed, as Brown had issued two apologies and accepted the findings at the time.

However, Brown disputed the conduct assessment during a recent interview, stating he does not accept that he brought the council into disrepute. “But it’s been and gone so I just have to live with that,” he said. Brown described his comment as a failed attempt at humour and lamented what he called an overly “dull society,” suggesting his sense of humour was misunderstood. He also questioned why public funds were required to support RNZ and implied he might not return to the broadcaster’s program if similar issues were raised.

The mayor’s initial public apology acknowledged the remark was inappropriate, and he expressed regret, saying he “got this one wrong.” The comments drew criticism from Muslim advocacy groups, who characterised the statement as “downright racism.” Brown’s chief of staff told investigators that the mayor first commented on the staff member’s untidy appearance and lack of identification before making the contentious remark.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions around public discourse and acceptable conduct in New Zealand’s political landscape, particularly regarding issues of race and religious identity.