
Ray Chung鈥檚 rich list backer has formally withdrawn his public support of the mayoral hopeful, after revelations Chung sent an email detailing an unsavoury sexual rumour about Mayor Tory Whanau.
The Herald revealed this morning an email in which current Wellington councillor Ray Chung shares a story he had heard of a drug-fuelled New Year鈥檚 Eve night of 鈥渢empestuous sex鈥 involving incumbent mayor Tory Whanau.
Whanau flatly denies it ever happened.
The email from early 2023, which Chung has confirmed he wrote, detailed a neighbour鈥檚 son鈥檚 sexual exploits with the Mayor, and included a reference Whanau having 鈥減endulous soft breasts鈥.
Whanau told the Herald the email contents are false and that she celebrated New Year鈥檚 Eve 2022 with ambassadors from the diplomatic corps and attended a rainbow community celebration.
The scandal has led to high-profile Wellington philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik withdrawing his support for Chung鈥檚 campaign.
Dunajtschik, a property mogul who has been described as one of the country鈥檚 most successful developers and investors, was a notable attendee at Chung鈥檚 recent campaign launch.
Philanthropist Sir Mark Dunajtschik addressing Wellington City Council at a 2024 meeting. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Herald revealed last month Dunajtschik was a key donor of Ray Chung鈥檚, saying at the time he threw his weight behind the councillor 鈥渂ecause Ray has both commercial business and local body experience鈥.
The rich-lister said he had given Chung a donation 鈥渋n the range of $20-$25K鈥.
When contacted by the Herald this morning to ask whether his endorsement still stands in light of the explicit email, Dunajtschik confirmed in a statement that it did not.
鈥淎ssuming the recent media reports, about dirty politics, are correct, I am disappointed. I do not support that behaviour nor will I support any candidates who engage in it鈥, he said.
鈥淚 urge all candidates to engage in a clean campaign and address the important and urgent issues facing the city, they should play the ball, not the person鈥.
The philanthropist鈥檚 contributions to the city include a $50 million donation towards a new acute mental health unit at Hutt Hospital as well as $53m to build the city鈥檚 new children鈥檚 hospital.
He made his fortune in commercial property alongside partner Dorothy Spotswood.
The couple have an estimated net worth of $450 million according to the 2025 NBR List.
Whanau said Chung鈥檚 email is an example of the 鈥渄ehumanising鈥 personal attacks she has experienced during her term as Wellington鈥檚 mayor - and part of the reason she is not running for the mayoralty again.
Mayor Tory Whanau during a Wellington City Council meeting at their chambers on The Terrace. Photo / Mark Mitchell.
鈥淭his sort of behaviour is unbecoming for a public official. It鈥檚 creepy. It鈥檚 gross. If he鈥檚 going to stay in the mayoral race, he needs to commit to a clean campaign鈥, she said.
Chung said he did no fact-checking of the claim but found it 鈥渋nteresting鈥 and thought his fellow councillors would agree.
Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung at his campaign launch. Photo / Ethan Manera.
He said it was a story he had heard from a neighbour while walking his dog and he intends to apologise to Whanau for passing it on.
鈥淚 passed on exactly what I was told. I would call it gossip.鈥
Asked if he would apologise to Whanau, he said: 鈥淚t was never intended to go actually to her.鈥 When pushed on this, he said he would apologise.
Chung said he was not aware of Dunajtschik revoking his endorsement when contacted by the Herald this afternoon, but called the news 鈥渄isappointing鈥.
鈥淭his is the first I鈥檝e heard of this, of course I鈥檓 very disappointed, but I need to explain to him how all this actually transpired鈥.
Chung argued it was a private email which he never intended to be shared publicly.
He said he agreed with Dunajtschik鈥檚 comment that politicians should play the ball, not the person.
As to whether the scandal would damage his chances to lead the capital city, Chung was unsure.
鈥淚 talk to women all the time, but whether this would damage my campaign, I don鈥檛 know鈥.
Ethan Manera is a New Zealand Herald journalist based in Wellington. He joined 九一星空无限 in 2023 as a broadcast journalist with 九一星空无限talk ZB and is interested in local issues, politics, and property in the capital. Ethan can be emailed at [email protected].
Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you
Get the iHeart App
Get more of the radio, music and podcasts you love with the FREE iHeartRadio app. Scan the QR code to download now.
Download from the app stores
Stream unlimited music, thousands of radio stations and podcasts all in one app. iHeartRadio is easy to use and all FREE