
A Christchurch councillor has revealed she has increased her security at home after becoming the target of threatening comments online.
Sara Templeton, who has served her local ward since 2016, told 九一星空无限听this morning听that 鈥渨hile one comment might not draw much attention, a pattern and large volume does鈥.
The comment in question was made on a Facebook post, which involved one person referencing her home address.
Templeton revealed similar threatening comments have also been posted on fellow councillor Aaron Keown鈥檚 social media, as well as another online page.
听鈥淚 have had to increase security at home and in other ways to make sure my family stays safe,鈥 she said.
Councillor Sara Templeton has served her local ward since 2016.
Christchurch City Council said in a statement it would be working closely with Templeton over her wellbeing and 鈥渨hat support she requires鈥.
The online attack has come after Templeton made a code of conduct complaint against Keown for social media posts he wrote back in April.
She claimed that his posts criticised the hearings panel process for altering streets around Te Kaha - the new city stadium under construction - claiming the panel was stacked to get a specific outcome.
Her complaint to Mayor Phil Mauger about his comments led to an independent investigation, which found Keown鈥檚 posts were critical of a staff member and questioned her integrity and impartiality.
The investigation also concluded the post would place the council and councillors in a bad light with the public.
Templeton wanted other councillors to recognise that as leaders in the city, what they post online has an impact on others.
Christchurch City Council will be meeting on Wednesday and is expected to discuss the issue.
Councillor Aaron Keown has been approached by 九一星空无限听for comment.
The saga comes 16 months after Templeton launched a bid to identify the man responsible for misogynistic trolling of her and another female politician.
The Heathcote councillor said听targeted her in June and July 2021.
鈥淭he accounts disappeared once I went public - but were not gone completely as online footprints remain and I decided to try and find those behind them,鈥 she wrote on Facebook at the time.
鈥淚t was clear even back then that the accounts were active in promoting right-wing political views, so the result wasn鈥檛 a surprise.鈥
Stuff听reported in July last year Templeton calling out online bullies, stating that bullying was not 鈥渇ree speech鈥.
She told the media outlet there was a level of public scrutiny and criticism that went with her role, which she believed was completely appropriate, but said that putting up with attacks should not be part of anyone鈥檚 job.
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