New probe into bullying claims
Inquiry to review responses to Haumaha claimants
Athird government probe into how bullying allegations against Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha were handled is under way.
The State Services Commissioner, Peter Hughes, has confirmed he will review how the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Corrections responded to three staff working on a joint project with the police.
Three women — two senior policy analysts from Justice and one from Corrections — walked out of Police National Headquarters in June 2016 and refused to return because of Haumaha’s alleged verbal bullying.
Two of the women laid formal complaints this year, which are being investigated by the Independent Police Conduct Authority, after the Herald broke the story in August.
The IPCA investigation was expected to be released this week but general manager Warren Young confirmed there had been “some delays”.
A draft report was given to the police several weeks ago to give an opportunity to respond to the IPCA findings.
Young could not give a precise date but was “hopeful” the report would be published before Christmas.
The new SSC review will not consider the response of police management, which is part of the IPCA investigation, only Justice and Corrections.
The decision by Hughes jars with the findings of the Government Inquiry, in which Mary Scholtens QC cleared Justice and Corrections for not making a complaint with police.
“On my understanding of the facts of the various allegations, I consider their approach was reasonable,” wrote Scholtens.
In confirming the SSC review, Hughes said he was responsible to provide assurance that “allegations of wrongdoing” in the public service are dealt with appropriately and quickly.
“I said I would consider the findings of the Scholtens inquiry and, if necessary, take appropriate steps to satisfy myself that the Department of Corrections and the Ministry of Justice responded appropriately to complaints of bullying,” said Hughes. “I am having a look at how the complaints were handled.”
The SSC review was welcomed by National MP Chris Bishop who wrote to Hughes asking him to investigate conflicting statements issued by the Justice Ministry, Corrections and Police following the Herald story in August.
“The issue of how the bullying complains were dealt with has not been satisfactorily resolved by the Scholtens Inquiry,” said Bishop.
The two women who made formal complaints about Haumaha, referred to as Ms A and Ms C in the Government Inquiry, were disappointed with Scholtens’ comments about their allegations.
In clearing the process which led to Haumaha’s appointment as Deputy Commissioner in May this year, the QC found there was no formal complaint to police.
Even if there had been, Scholtens found the likely consequence would be the concerns would have formed part of Commissioner Mike Bush’s assessment of Haumaha’s leadership style. And Bush already knew Haumaha could be “forceful” and “demanding”, said Scholtens, because of a blunt appraisal for a previous promotion.