Hamilton City Council has voted to remove a high-profile councillor from its statutory management committee after he was accused of unethical behaviour.
Ewan Wilson, who founded the budget airline Kiwi Air, emailed an applicant for a liquor licence extension criticising his fellow committee members after the committe refused the extension.
The applicant later lodged an appeal over the way the application was handled.
Committee chair John Gower says because the committee has quasi-judicial powers it must adhere to a very high standard of conduct.
Cr Wilson says his removal is politically motivated and revenge for some of his outspoken criticism of past council decisions.
The council voted 8-4 to drop him from the committee.
