Assault allegation shadows Ray Chung’s mayoral bid

In a campaign already marked by the media spectacle as the most heated in recent memory, the walkouts, and controversy, Wellington City Mayoral Candidate Ray Chung is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of assault hidden from the public eye tied to a police investigation.

Exclusive reporting by thisquality revealed police investigated an alleged altercation outside a Johnsonville bar involving Chung on 11 July. The individual who made the complaint in a tip-off told thisquality they had never previously been involved in violence and described feeling shocked.

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Image: 1841 Bar Restaurant in Johnsonville, Wellington. The venue offers weekly entertainment, live sports viewing, and gaming options. (Supplied)

The altercation took place outside 1841 Bar and Restaurant. The venue is a familiar part of the suburb’s lifestyle where families stop in for pub meals and workers gather for after-shift drinks.

For many Johnsonville residents the venue is seen as a community hub rather than a flashpoint for political controversy. Its reputation has long been one of casual conviviality rather than confrontation.

The idea that the venue is linked to a police investigation into a sitting councillor and mayoral candidate brought renewed media attention surrounding conduct.

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Image: Ray Chung organised a constituents meeting on his Facebook page under the events section at 1841 Bar & Restaurant in Johnsonville, Wellington. Dated 11 July, 2025. (Supplied / Facebook)

The complainant alleged they were punched and struck with a metal door after arriving at what they believed was a public campaign meeting at the venue. They told police about cameras they believed had captured the altercation.

The meeting was described as a small private function for supporters, despite belief it was advertised as a public event. That confusion has raised questions about transparency in Chung’s campaign activity.

In a response provided to thisquality under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, Wellington City Council said police interviewed the complainant and reviewed CCTV footage before concluding the matter was “not as reported.”

The Council confirmed it holds no footage of the incident outside the bar and it did not rule out the assault allegation.

Video: The controversy surrounding Ray Chung comes as scrutiny grows over the political networks shaping Wellington’s election. (Supplied / thisquality / Paul the Other One / Quiet Pact Network Limited partnership content)

The incident has lingered in the public conversation, raising further questions about Chung’s conduct in the lead-up to Wellington’s 2025 mayoral election.

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The allegation surrounding Chung add to a growing list of controversies clouding his Independent Together platform, which promises “common sense” and independence from party politics. It highlights the tension between his reformist image and his personal record.

The police investigation underscores a pattern of behaviour that undercuts the campaign message.

Image: Ray Chung addressing a campaign against his character related to emails he sent about Tory Whanau. Dated July 3, 2025. (Supplied / Independent Together public media)

In 2023, months after Tory Whanau became Wellington’s first Māori woman mayor, Chung forwarded an email to colleagues repeating a lewd rumour about her personal life. Whanau condemned it as sexist and malicious. Chung admitted sending the email, later calling it a misjudgement.

Whether this becomes a minor footnote or a defining red flag about leadership, the suburban venue now sits unexpectedly at the heart of a contest that has come to symbolise not only city governance but the political culture Wellington is willing to endorse.

Independent Together and lobby group Better Wellington did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.

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Outgoing Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau and fellow Mayoral Candidate Andrew Little were contacted for comment.

thisquality requested access to the footage under the Official Information Act and will publish any new findings if the material becomes available.

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