Former chief wants extra info from Waikato DHB
Lawyers seeking documents related to watchdog’s inquiry into Nigel Murray ‘I’m not planning on coaching again’
Lawyers acting for embattled former health board boss Dr Nigel Murray are engaged in an information gathering campaign with eight requests to his former workplace for documents.
Murray’s lawyers, Peter Cullen Law from Wellington, have sent the eight Official Information Act [OIA] requests to Waikato District Health Board since the former chief executive resigned his position in October.
Murray quit after a probe into his expenses which found he spent $218,000 of taxpayer money travelling for work in his three-year tenure.
A State Services Commission inquiry found $120,000 of that was either unauthorised or unjustified.
The case has been turned over to the Serious Fraud Office, while the purchase of a failed $25.7 million virtual health platform by the DHB under Murray’s watch is being investigated by the Auditor-General.
The OIAs follow a move by Murray’s lawyers to obtain the 12 witness statements provided to the State Services Commission lead investigator John Ombler for that inquiry.
Last month the Herald revealed the confidential statements made to the Government’s chief watchdog could be released in an unprecedented move that might influence whether witnesses speak out in future cases.
A top-level legal argument broke out over the witness statements in the inquiry into the Murray’s spending.
That situation remains unresolved after the SSC initially refused release of the statements, prompting Peter Cullen Law to complain to the Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner.
The SSC, which was in talks with Privacy Commissioner John Edwards over the issue, told the Herald his decision would have a significant effect on future state sector inquiries.
The statements stemmed from interviews with the 12 witnesses, only one of whom is anonymous.
They included the three senior DHB staff who raised concerns with former board chairman Bob Simcock over Murray’s expenses last year.
Last week the DHB confirmed it had received eight OIA requests but declined to release details of the information sought because of privacy reasons.
It’s unclear if the OIAs were released to Murray’s lawyers and, if so, whether any details were redacted or the work was charged for.
The lawyer acting for Murray, Calum Cartwright of Peter Cullen Law, said he could not comment on what information was being requested and why.
“There are still investigations continuing and it would not be in the interest of any of the parties to preempt these investigations by releasing details of Official Information Act inquiries that are still being addressed.”
Under the Official Information Act 1982, individuals can request data, documents, correspondence and other information from any government-funded agency or statutory Crown entity.
It’s used for all sorts of reasons, including by the media to make public information that would otherwise stay secret.
Examples of information available include emails between individuals, documents, reports, and even textmessage exchanges.
Waikato DHB could not say how much the eight OIAs had cost, but at the same time it was rocked by the expenses scandal last year OIA requests climbed to the highest in three years and cost taxpayers an estimated $200,000.
In total there were 262 OIA requests last year, with at least 107 from the media — three times the number of media requests for official information compared with the previous two years.
In October 2017 alone, the month Murray resigned, 41 requests were logged by the DHB, the highest of any month in the entire three years.
Since January this year the DHB had logged 109 OIA requests. Sir John Kirwan says coaching the Blues was a dream job — but it just didn’t work out. Sir John Kirwan’s rugby coaching career could be over.
In a lengthy interview with 66 magazine, the All Blacks great reflected on his time as a coach.
“I never say never, but I’m not planning on coaching again,” Kirwan said.
After a spectacular All Blacks career, Kirwan coached for more than 15 years, including a tumultuous three years with the Blues.
Under Kirwan’s tenure, the Blues finished 10th in 2013 and 2014, and 14th in 2015 — their worst season in franchise history. He resigned in June 2015 having led the Auckland side to just 16 wins while at the club.
The 53-year-old didn’t give any excuses but said he would have liked more time to turn things around at the club.
“I worked all my life to get my dream job and I failed,” Kirwan said.
“It was horrible. I wasn’t sleeping. I’d made a lot of mistakes but it was a five-year turnaround not a threeyear turnaround.”
Kirwan said his experience with the Blues took a huge toll on him but it also helped him grow personally and professionally.
“I’ve always taken the opportunities that have been presented and that hasn’t always been easy. I’ve been scared at times, totally out of my depth. But all those experiences have helped me grow.
“The Blues was one of the best things to happen to me, it just didn’t work out. It was a testing time for me, my mental health and my career.
“I love the game. I still love the Blues. The game has given me everything, so how can you turn your back on a game that has given you everything and not still love it?”
Kirwan is still involved in the sport as a TV pundit and is a strong advocate for mental health and depression awareness.