Ministry refers staff misconduct to SFO

The Ministry of Primary Industries says it has referred evidence of potential serious staff misconduct to the Serious Fraud Office.

MPI said in a statement it had also referred the matter to the State Services Commission (SSC) and it was part of the SSC’s inquiry into the use of external security consultants including Thompson & Clark.

‘‘The conduct of concern did not involve the contracting of Thompson & Clark by MPI, but other matters,’’ director-general Martyn Dunne said in a statement.

‘‘Information obtained to date suggests these matters occurred prior to October 2013. They involved staff no longer working for MPI. MPI is extremely disappointed by the nature of the potential misconduct.

‘‘MPI has held off disclosing the referral to the Serious Fraud Office until now to provide the SFO with the opportunity to properly evaluate the material.’’

A SFO spokesman confirmed the agency was considering a matter that had been referred by MPI.

State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes announced last month that he had widened an inquiry into external consultants. This followed matters raised by Security Intelligence Service director Rebecca Kitteridge and MPI.

MPI said in June it had uncovered evidence of potential serious staff misconduct relating to events that occurred some years ago.

The misconduct was uncovered as part of the preparation of a response to an Official Information Act request for all correspondence between MPI employees and Thompson & Clark. Also in June, Kitteridge said SIS interactions raised questions ‘‘in relation to conduct and possible bias in favour of Thompson and Clark’’.