Deputy Mayor Ngaire Button has defended a decision by Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt to play golf on Thursday.
Mr Marryatt, whose $68,000 pay increase led to a protest outside the council offices on 1 February, left a council meeting to play in the Pro-Am at the Pegasus Golf Club.
Mr Marryatt did not respond to questions from Radio New Zealand News. Instead a statement from Ms Button was provided.
In the statement, she defended Mr Marryatt's action, saying he took annual leave for the tournament - a major event in the region and one sponsored by the council.
