A sad death

Stuff reports:

An Auckland Council employee has died in a suspected suicide amid allegations of harassment and bullying.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Gargiulo had worked at the council since May 2017 following nearly five years at a healthcare agency.

She was responsible for implementing the council’s weed management plan, of which the most controversial aspect was the use of the chemical weedkiller glyphosate.

Stuff understands Gargiulo came under a great deal of pressure from elected members and members of the public over the issue, which came to a head at a climate change and environment committee meeting on November 12.

She died a few weeks later.

Very sad for her family and colleagues. Thoughts are with them.

While suicide is never something you can tie to one event, it is disturbing to read that pressure from Councillors may have played a part.

No doubt this will be looked into by the Coroner.