Call for inquiry into handling of bullying claims

WELLINGTON: A new inquiry into how three government agencies handled bullying allegations against deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha is needed to restore public confidence, the National Party says.

MP Chris Bishop has written to state services commissioner Peter Hughes asking him to investigate the different statements issued by the Justice Ministry, Police and Corrections.

Three women working on a joint project walked out of Police National Headquarters because of alleged bullying by Mr Haumaha.

The policy analysts, two from the Justice Ministry, one from Corrections, were based at PNHQ in Wellington working in the Maori, Pacific, Ethnic Services division run by Mr Haumaha, a superintendent at the time.

Alleged verbal bullying contributed to the women leaving PNHQ in June 2016, feeling ‘‘devalued and disillusioned’’.

The trio told their managers, did not return to PNHQ, and continued working on the project from the Justice Ministry offices.

Conflicting accounts have emerged about what followed.

Corrections said there was no record of alleged bullying, while the Justice Ministry confirmed issues were raised.

‘‘The issues around behaviour were raised at the highest level between the acting chief executive of the ministry, Audrey Sonerson, and deputy commissioner of police Mike Clement,’’ deputy chief executive Colin Lynch said.

‘‘The ministry expected police to follow up this issue appropriately.’’

And the police say an allega tion of bullying was made to Mr Clement by a ‘‘third party, external to all agencies’’.

Since the story broke last week, one of the women has been corresponding with a senior manager from the police professional conduct division about the process to lay a complaint.

Police commissioner Mike Bush has confirmed his executive team was made aware last Friday of contact between Mr Haumaha and a staff member, who used to work for Mr Haumaha, in relation to the bullying allegations.

‘‘This will be investigated and we are currently seeking further information about what has occurred to determine what steps are required,’’ Mr Bush said.

The bullying allegations from 2016 could fall into the scope of the inquiry into the process of Mr Haumaha’s appointment as deputy commissioner.

Mary Scholtens QC will start her inquiry next Monday.

Mr Bishop told Mr Hughes that a separate inquiry was needed to examine the conflicting stories of Justice, Corrections and Police in regards to the three women refusing to work in Police National Headquarters.

‘‘These inconsistencies mean an inquiry by SSC is warranted.

‘‘It is clear that something has gone fundamentally wrong inside the state sector when three different departments have three different views about how to characterise these women’s complaints and what was done about them,’’ Mr Bishop wrote to Mr Hughes. — NZME

❛ These inconsistencies mean an inquiry by SSC is

warranted

National MP Chris Bishop