Wintec probe insufficient: QC
Former Wintec staff are pleased a new investigation will be launched into allegations against Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers.
A 2015 confidential investigation which cleared Flowers of any wrongdoing is now in doubt after Wintec hired Queen’s Counsel Victoria Casey to examine the findings in December.
Casey found ‘‘the 2015 investigation process was not sufficiently robust for the Wintec Council to have confidence in its conclusions’’, a signed letter released by Wintec states.
‘‘I emphasise that I am not expressing a view on whether the conclusions of the 2015 investigation were in fact correct.
‘‘Nor do I express any view on whether a further investigation will reach any different conclusions.’’
Wintec decided not to release details of the complaints and allegations, saying it was to protect the confidentiality and privacy of those involved and to ensure a balanced and fair process.
A former Wintec executive employee who was interviewed in 2015, but did not want to use his name, said he
only became aware recently of what was in the report.
‘‘I’m pleased the issue will be reexamined and the new investigator will have my full co-operation in this matter.’’
Former Wintec senior HR executive Sheryl Richards was pleased with the new finding.
‘‘They have made the right decision,’’ she said.
‘‘In the meantime a lot of money has been wasted in the interim, but like I said, it’s a step in the right direction.’’
Richards comments come after Stuff revealed Wintec had spent in excess of $200,000 on legal advice and a public relations firm to manage its image during a two-year investigation by Stuff into multiple allegations against Flowers.
The Wintec Council met about the report last week and has decided to ‘‘revisit the allegations made’’, Wintec chairman Barry Harris said on Monday.
‘‘How this will occur and what this involves is yet to be decided. The Wintec Council at the time of this initial investigation acted with the best intent. In order to give assurance it is a responsible organisation, the current Wintec Council has decided this is best revisited.’’
Audit New Zealand is also performing an extended annual audit of Wintec, which will cover ‘‘assurance work into matters raised around expenditure and restructuring costs’’, Harris said. That work is expected to be complete in June or July.