Investigator named
The State Services Commission (SSC) has announced one of New Zealand’s ‘‘most experienced and respected advisers’’ will lead an investigation into Southern Response and its private investigators.
Earlier this month, State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes announced the SSC was launching an inquiry into the Crowned-owned claims management company, to look at whether its ‘‘use of a security contractor’’ breached integrity and standards.
In 2015, Southern Response hired private investigator Gavin Clark and contacted police over concerns about disgruntled earthquake insurance claimant Cameron Preston, who they feared could trigger another ‘‘Ashburton Winz incident’’.
Hughes yesterday announced former deputy State Services Commissioner Doug Martin would investigate whether Southern Response and its security contractor Thompson and Clark breached the State Services Standards of Integrity and Conduct.
Hughes said the allegations raised serious questions about the conduct and integrity of a contractor hired by a Crown company. The SSC inquiry would look at concerns about the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) use of Thompson and Clark.
Martin was in 2013 headhunted to become Crown manager of the Christchurch City Council after it lost building consent accreditation. His fee was $2000 a day to oversee the council’s building consenting functions and ensure it regained accreditation.
Current Southern Response chief executive Anthony Honeybone contacted Hughes after the inquiry was announced to tell him the insurer’s staff had received threats and were concerned for their personal safety.
‘‘Our job is to ensure that the inquiry gets to the bottom of the allegations made and establishes the facts of the case,’’ Hughes said.
‘‘However, it is completely unacceptable for state servants to be subjected to threats and abuse simply for doing their job.’’
Martin will investigate and report on the circumstances, reasons and outcome of Southern Response’s engagement of external security consultants.