Prendergast wants dialogue before review

Former Community Trust of Southland chief executive John Prendergast wants any confidentiality restrictions set aside when a ministerial review into the circumstances surrounding his resignation takes place as expected.

The community trust board this week resolved to ask the relevant government minister after the election to review the circumstances surrounding Prendergast’s resignation in June.

When Prendergast was told on Thursday the trust would seek a review, he said ‘‘Good. Bring it on’’.

And in a statement to Stuff yesterday, he reiterated that he welcomed any such review.

‘‘From my perspective an independent set of eyes transparently reviewing and reporting publicly on this matter would be very beneficial for everyone.’’

However, before a review progressed, there were some procedural matters that needed to be clarified, he said.

These include setting aside any confidentiality restrictions, agreeing who would be responsible for costs associated with the review, and the terms of reference for the review itself.

‘‘I look forward to hearing from the trust so that we can discuss and progress these matters, and get the review under way,’’ Prendergast said.

Community Trust chair Margot Hishon did not respond to questions yesterday, which related to Prendergast wanting the procedural matters sorted before the review began.

The decision by the trust to seek a review comes after a group of former trustees, upset at how current trustees have treated Prendergast, asked associate finance minister Amy Adams to investigate.

Hishon said this week there were legal reasons why the trust board was unable to comment on Prendergast’s resignation.

Prendergast has said his lawyer was instructed that the trustees had resolved unanimously that they wanted him to exit the trust, and he was never given a reason.

Hishon said this week it was untrue for Prendergast to say he didn’t know the reasons.