Case of mistaken identity with council 'impersonator'

UPDATED 11:17am

A man mistaken for someone impersonating Tauranga City Council was probably a Regional Council staff member.

The Regional Council's pollution prevention officer has contacted TCC to advise that he was doing authorised work in the Evans Road area this morning, TCC spokesperson Marcel Currin said. 

"We now think that the member of the public who reported the man's activity to TCC confused the two councils."  

"Our advice remains that staff and contractors should always be able to produce formal identification when working on behalf of Tauranga City Council and that suspicious activity should always be reported to the police. In this light everyone did the right thing."  

"It also resolves the issue of how an alleged impersonater might have acquired a city council T shirt."  

"Meanwhile no one feels silly at all."

EARLIER:

Tauranga City Council has received reports of a man who is falsely representing himself as a council staff member in Papamoa and Mount Maunganui.

The man has been knocking on doors and trying door handles in the Gloucester Rd and Evans Rd area this morning.

When challenged, he has told people that he was investigating odour complaints.

The man is wearing a blue T shirt with the council logo on it but a spokesperson from the council has confirmed that this man is not working for Tauranga City Council.

Staff and contractors should always be able to produce formal identification when working on behalf of Tauranga City Council.

The man has been described as a Caucasian with an olive complexion, driving a grey ute with a canopy on the back.

Police have been advised.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity should report it to the police.