Antarctica NZ chief executive was sacked

Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Peter Beggs was sacked after an investigation, its board’s chair has disclosed.

In a written statement to Stuff last night, board chairman Sir Brian Roche said Beggs was dismissed and would be paid only his contractual entitlements.

The announcement came after mounting pressure on the board to provide details about Beggs’ sudden departure last week.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about the turmoil at Antarctica New Zealand at her post-cabinet press conference yesterday and said it was an operational matter on which she had

no more information.

Beggs told a reporter his family hoped to return to the United Kingdom, where his children’s grandparents lived.

Peter Smith has been named as the acting chief executive at Antarctica New Zealand.

Roche would not elaborate on his statement but sources told Stuff the investigation took between four to six weeks and discovered misconduct and failures of judgment.

No other authorities had been called in but the lapses showed conduct below what was expected of a chief executive in the public sector.

The sources said Beggs was not given the option of resigning.

Antarctica New Zealand staff heard of the dismissal last night.