1. RON MARK (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Corrections
Does he have confidence in his department’s handling of employment issues; if so, why?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) Link to this
Yes; because Barry Matthews is a respected chief executive.
Has the Minister read Judge Coral Shaw’s judgment in the Employment Court case involving the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and Rākai Tāwhiwhirangi, in which she condemns the investigative processes and the level of bias in the investigation conducted under the direction of Dave East, the then Wellington regional manager, who has since left the service amid allegations of corruption and inappropriate management practices; and whom would he prefer to have serving in the prison service: an officer who resists bribery and corruption, or people like Mr East who have left under a cloud of allegations?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Yes, I have read the Employment Court decision, but, as the judge has ruled, the question of what remedies are appropriate from that judgment will be deferred until a further hearing on reinstatement has been held. Employment issues are the responsibility of the chief executive. It is not appropriate for me to make any further comment.
Can the Minister confirm to the House whether representations were made on behalf of Mr Tāwhiwhirangi to him and to the chief executive, Mr Matthews, and whether those representations pointed out that Mr Tāwhiwhirangi was a straight shooter and an honest prison officer with long and creditable service, and that the allegations against him were laughable and would fail at the Employment Court if the matter ever got that far?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I can confirm that I facilitated a meeting where that member, Mr Mark, was able to meet directly with myself and Mr Matthews. He was able to express his views and concerns at that time. I am confident that Mr Matthews took on board all of those things and made decisions accordingly.
Why, at a time when the public is demanding that corruption be rooted out of our prison service, has the Department of Corrections seen fit to prosecute and pursue—inappropriately, we now know—the one officer who we know is not corrupt, who did refuse bribes, and who did refuse to perform a corrupt action; why did the chief executive and the department not listen to the employment authority’s decision, and why did they seek to pursue this matter further in the Employment Court, consequently losing again?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
As the Minister of Corrections, I have been determined to ensure that the Department of Corrections does everything possible to identify and prosecute anyone in the department for unethical or illegal behaviour. I am informed that there are still matters to be investigated in relation to this case. I am not prepared to make any further comment.
Simon PowerHow many prison staff are currently suspended on full pay while they are being investigated, and when will the Patten inquiry into corruption at Rimutaka Prison be completed?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
Currently 14 prison service staff are suspended nationally—that is, across the country. I understand that the Patten inquiry is coming to the point where it is reaching a conclusion. I look forward to that outcome.
Is the Minister aware that for some time now, going back as far as 2006 and even specifically in February 2007, many allegations have been made against a senior manager in the Department of Corrections—namely David East—who it is alleged inappropriately employed his wife and son in the department, and allegations made also against the general manager of prisons, Harry Hawthorn, who it is alleged created a specific appointment so that his partner could be brought to Wellington and given a job; why have those allegations not been pursued, yet the one officer who we know specifically refused a bribe and refused to act corruptly has been pursued and hounded and subsequently found to be free and innocent of all the allegations brought against him?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR Link to this
I am not prepared to comment on the case the member refers to, because there are further proceedings. I will say that allegations are made on a daily basis in the corrections system. It is part and parcel of the difficult environment in which corrections officers and managers work. All I can say is that we now have a crime prevention intelligence unit in each prison and a new investigation unit reporting directly to the chief executive. We are doing everything possible to check out any allegations in any part of the corrections system and deal with them as quickly as we can.