Peter Bentley: Rotorua Lakes councillor Peter Bentley resigns during fiery exchange with mayor Steve Chadwick

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Apr 28, 2022 · 5m

Rotorua councillors have been left shocked after one of their own suddenly quit in a fiery exchange with mayor Steve Chadwick.

Peter Bentley resigned, effective immediately, in a public council meeting during a discussion about the council's controversial Māori wards bill, which was put on pause just hours later.

Other councillors have criticised the mayor's handling of the meeting.

Chadwick says she is "disappointed" Bentley quit, and takes exception to what she believes were "disrespectful" accusations he made about her.

In the full Rotorua Lakes Council meeting, Chadwick moved to include a…