Cull following an exchange in December 2015 in which Vandervis alleged that Cull paid a bribe to secure a council contract in the 1980s. Vandervis claimed that Cull, in his response to the allegations, had defamed him. Vandervis originally sought NZ$250,000 in general damages and NZ$250,000 in exemplary damages along with legal costs. The lawsuit was settled without an apology. In late August 2019, the Otago Daily Times reported that Vandervis was the subject of 11 complaints of inappropriate behaviour, angry and shouting, insulting, threatening, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, and intimidating behaviour against several Dunedin City Council staff members and members of the public. Vandervis was also criticised by Mayor Cull and several fellow councillors including Rachel Elder, Aaron Hawkins, and Mike Lord for alleged bullying and intimidating behaviour. In response, Vandervis defended his actions and claimed that he was the victim of a smear campaign timed to coincide with the 2019 Dunedin mayoral election. In early September 2019, Vandervis drew criticism when he made remarks that young voters were ignorant or did not care about candidates during a mayoral debate organised by the Otago University Students' Association. Vandervis subsequently apologised for his remarks. 2019–2022 parking ticket dispute In mid-September 2019, a twelfth complaint was lodged against Vandervis after he allegedly verbally abused some DCC staff members over a parking ticket. Vandervis contested the complaint and uploaded a CCTV video on social media to support his claim that he did not verbally abuse. David Benham, chairman of the Otago Regional Council's audit and risk subcommittee, was tasked with conducting an independent investigation into the matter. On 10 December, Vandervis was censured by his fellow councillors for the parking ticket incident. In response, he alleged that his privacy was breached at a critical time of the election campaign. Vandveris litigated the censure and code of conduct review through a 2020 judicial review at the High Court, and in March 2022 appealed the result of this to the Court of Appeal, New Zealand's principal intermediate appellate court. The Court of Appeal agreed with both the judicial review and the initial process that the Council had followed, with the exception of noting that Vandervis should have received a written copy of the allegation made against him. In June 2022 the Dunedin City Council was awarded costs of $101,682.85. In July 2022 Vandervis sought leave from the Supreme Court of New Zealand to hear