Antarctica NZ chief dismissed

Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Peter Beggs was sacked after an investigation.

In a written statement to The Press 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.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about the turmoil at Antarctica NZ at her postcabinet 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 Britain.

Peter Smith has been named acting chief executive at Antarctica NZ.

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

No other authorities had been called in.

The sources said Beggs had not been given the option of resigning. ‘‘He was fired,’’ one said. ‘‘Resigning was never on the cards apparently.’’

Antarctica NZ staff were told about the dismissal last night. Earlier they had simply been told Beggs was leaving.

Beggs wasn’t the only sudden departure. Board member Sharon Hunter also left unexpectedly, saying she had to spend more time with her unwell daughter.

The agency, which received $20 million in public funding last year, oversees the running of Scott Base in Antarctica and scientific research programmes on the ice.