New Zealand’s Public Services Commissioner is to investigate how a Crown Agency came to commission and sponsor a media story featuring a Labour Party candidate who subsequently became an MP.
Emails have revealed the Agency, Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities, knew the political affiliation of Arena Williams and that Ms Williams (pictured) had made no secret of it.
However, Kāinga Ora still went ahead and placed her story on News Zealand Media and Entertainment’s OneRoof platform.
The emails show a Kāinga Ora official declaring they would “proceed as though we didn’t know about her impending announcement”.
Minister for Housing, Megan Woods, who has charge of Kāinga Ora, was quick to criticise this conduct, saying Public Servants did not have the right to “un-know” something once they knew about it.
Public Service Commissioner, Peter Hughes said the matter needed to be looked into.
“We need to look into what has happened here and why,” Mr Hughes said in a statement.
“Political neutrality and trustworthiness are bottom lines for the Public Service.
“The matters that have been raised go to trust and confidence in a key Public Service Agency,” he said.
Chief Executive of Kāinga Ora, Andrew McKenzie said he welcomed Mr Hughes’ investigation.
“Kāinga Ora welcomes the decision by the Public Service Commissioner,” Mr McKenzie said.
“We will be fully cooperating with the process,” he said.
“We are unable to provide any further information until after the Commissioner’s work is completed.”
Asked if he’d overseen a culture of cover-ups, McKenzie said: “What’s happened here is we’ve got one incident where a staff member has made some flippant comments. We’ve spoken to them.”
Wellington, 14 November 2021
