Ex-KiwiBuild boss to sue
Barclay ‘extremely disappointed’ ministry spoke out
Former KiwiBuild boss Stephen Barclay says he is pursuing a case of constructive dismissal against the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
This comes after the Ministry revealed earlier yesterday that Barclay resigned amid an employment investigation that revealed complaints from employees, contractors and stakeholders regarding his “leadership behaviour”.
In a statement made through a private public relations company, Barclay said he was extremely disappointed that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) had divulged details of an employment matter.
He said he considered this a breach of privacy and felt he had no choice but to respond.
But State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes said in a statement he was satisfied with the way the MHUD chief executive Andrew Crisp had managed this employment matter.
“His actions are consistent with what I would expect of a public service chief executive.
“I am acquainted with the facts of this case and they do not support a number of statements in the media release issued by Mr Barclay’s public relations company today.”
Speaking to Newstalk ZB last night, Barclay said he was “gobsmacked” at Crisp’s statement, saying he was “staggered” by its tone.
He said not long after he resigned on January 18, his lawyer made it very clear to Crisp he intended to sue MHUD.
Addressing the claims that an investigation found there were “leadership behaviour” issues, Barclay described his management style as “direct”.
“I sort of say it how it is; I expect people to have a point of view and tell me what their point of view is and noodle it around, we make decisions and move on.
“I’m known as an implementer, I get things done. I think it’s a clash of management styles.”
He was highly critical of Crisp’s decision to conduct the investigation internally.
“I asked for that investigation to be handled by someone independent, not by Andrew Crisp who has a personal relationship with all of the complainants.”
Although he said it was “absolutely” his decision to resign “for the good of the KiwiBuild programme” he claimed he was forced out because he didn’t “fit the mould of the public service and, in particular, Andrew [Crisp’s] view of the public service.”
In terms of the KiwiBuild policy itself, he said the wheels “seem to have fallen off”.
Last week it was revealed that just 300 KiwiBuild houses would be completed by July this year — the target was 1000.
A spokesman for Housing Minister Phil Twyford said as Stephen Barclay’s former employer, Andrew Crisp was best placed to comment on his departure and it was not appropriate for Twyford to comment on an employment matter regarding a public servant.