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Source: Radio New Zealand

There is a particular onus on police to meet the highest standards of professional conduct, an employment lawyer says, as police appoint a Kings Counsel to begin employment investigations into three active duty employees taken to task in a damning report.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority report, released on Tuesday, found serious misconduct at the highest levels over police handling of accusations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

Some of those heavily criticised in the report are still employed by police, while others have resigned.

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has been placed on leave from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency following the release.

The IPCA’s recommendations included instigating employment proceedings against individuals known as Assistant Commissioner A, Ms G, and Officer B for breaching the police code of conduct by bringing police into disrepute.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers confirmed three people taken to task in the report remained on active duty. He told Checkpoint on Wednesday he had appointed a King’s Counsel to oversee the employment process.

“They are still on active duty and we’ve worked through that process to make sure that’s the right decision.

“There’s a process to follow, and we need to let it take its course.”

Christchurch lawyer Katherine Dalziel said employment investigations could be detailed and difficult processes for all parties.

“At the end of the day the job is for a decision maker to find out whether an event has happened, whether it is misconduct or serious misconduct and whether it warrants a consequence, like a warning or dismissal.”

Investigations delved into breaches of policy and procedures in the workplace and frequently focused on codes of conduct, which could be fairly generic, but encompassed behaviour that reflected integrity or organisational values.

In the case of police, there was an even higher threshold to meet, Dalziel said.

“There is a specific onus on the police – they set high standards of integrity and they need to model it. At the end of the day they are judging the behaviour of people to a criminal standard and they need to be … not quite above the law, but at least within the law.

“Their codes of conduct set very high standards, so the police really need to take these processes seriously.”

The IPCA report found officers had used “questionable rationalisations” to justify their inaction.

It said the strict police hierarchy exacerbated a “failure to challenge poor decisions; a tolerance of unethical behaviour; and a tendency to overlook alternative responses to problems due to pressure to conform or fear of ostracism”.

“…many of those we interviewed justified their own poor decision-making by saying that they were merely doing what they were told and that it was for their superior officer to determine what else should be done,” the report stated.

But Dalziel said there was no defence in the argument that employees were just following orders.

“Every person signs up to an employment agreement, even if it’s a collective agreement, they have their part to play in it. So if their behaviour – even if they’ve been directed to do it – is wrong, that’s something they can face personal consequences for.”

There were protections in law to deal with people who were being directed to do something that was against their employment obligations, she said.

“That’s why we have the Protected Disclosures Act – if somebody is asking you to engage in something that would create serious misconduct then you can make a protected disclosure about it.”

High levels of media and public scrutiny should not affect the process, Dalziel said.

“While the investigation is behind closed doors, not in a public forum, the fact that the story is there or that there may even be evidence out in the media doesn’t change or alter the process that needs to go on, which must be fair and reasonable, and must meet natural justice.”

A new workplace could investigate and discipline or dismiss an employee for something that happened at a previous job, she said.

“If they were concerned about the reputational impact of having somebody who has breached their employment agreement at a previous job that’s become public, they might say it’s a reputational issue – they’re not actually addessing the behaviour itself but just saying the reputational impact of… your behaviour in the past is affecting our business and we need to hear from you about that.”

There was no universal rule on whether employees were stood down, suspended or required to take leave with or without pay, which was up to individual employers and situations.

“Generally you would only suspend an employee if there was a risk they would interfere with the investigation or a risk they would continue the behaviour you’re trying to stop.”

While investigations could be conducted by external or internal investigators, given the seriousness of the matter, it was appropriate for police to bring in an external investigator, Dalziel said.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A young woman who worked for almost two months without a day off was not exploited or assaulted, says a man accused of slavery and sex offences.

Aucklander Moeaia Tuai, 63, gave evidence in his High Court trial today, and also called assault allegations a “big lie”.

He has pleaded not guilty to two charges of dealing in slaves, involving two young people.

He also denies two rapes, eight charges of indecent assault, six of sexual violation by unlawful connection and assault with a statue and a broom.

The Crown has accused him of keeping one of his alleged victims’ wages, hitting her and not allowing her to communicate with others.

Under cross-examination, Tuai agreed the young woman – then a teenager – worked 57 days in a row at her first job in a laundrette. She was usually paid $90 ‘under the table’ a day, with no employment contract and no rights.

Tuai said the job was work experience, and the pay was supposed to cover things such as money to buy lunch.

Prosecutor Chris Howard asked if he knew what was happening was illegal. Tuai said he did not know, and it had been her wish to work.

Tuai earlier told the jury at Auckland High Court he talked with her about making bank transfers from her account, and she authorised him to withdraw money. “She would smile and say ‘that is fine’,” he said.

He denied he hit her, and said both young people were free to talk to each other, contrary to what she and a witness told police.

The prosecution alleges Tuai put her to work in various jobs, took at least $78,000 of her money and made her take out a large loan.

Tuai said some of the money she earned went on expenses and buying a TV she wanted, as well as going shopping for what she wanted.

When they discussed whether he could withdraw money, and what it would be spent on, she told him ‘it’s up to you, whatever you see fit’, he added.

The trial continues.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

A Lower Hutt man who died of a heart attack during a Waitangi Day diving trip was on a waiting list to see a specialist.

Gideon Marama Te Ahuru, a 60-year-old builder and much-loved community figure, died on 6 February this year after pulling in two sacks of kina.

In her findings released on Thursday, Coroner Rachael Schmidt-McCleave concluded that Te Ahuru’s death – which was due to his underlying heart disease and extreme physical exertion – was “preventable”.

He had been diving off a boat with his brother-in-law, Solomona Priest, at Barrett’s Reef, near Eastbourne.

He sent a bag of kina to the surface after 20 minutes, followed by a second bag 10 minutes later but then surfaced coughing bloody phlegm.

Priest pulled him onto the boat, removed his diving gear and sped back to shore.

At the beach, he started doing CPR on Te Ahuru on the floor of the boat.

Two nearby medical professionals received alerts and arrived to take over CPR until emergency services arrived, but he could not be revived.

A post-mortem found his death was due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease contributed to by physical exertion.

The police dive squad found his dive cylinder was faulty and emptied faster than expected.

Together with the weight of the kina, that would have made it hard to breathe and put stress on his body.

Te Ahuru had been taking medication for high blood pressure and angina.

At his last consultation in December 2024, Te Ahuru had “excellent” blood pressure but complained of breathlessness when exercising.

He was prescribed aspirin and a beta blocker and referred to a cardiology specialist. “Unfortunately, Mr Te Ahuru died before he could be seen by that specialist.”

As a result of his health challenges, Te Ahuru had been eating healthily and rarely drank alcohol.

He also gave his time to Tane Ora, a community initiative to support Māori men’s health.

A builder by trade, he worked as property manager at the kura where his wife, Kararaina Luke, was the principal, and was deeply involved in sport, including softball.

“He loved sport, and was a well-loved, tolerant and gentle man,” the coroner said.

“Mr Te Ahuru was a certified and experienced diver, having dived for at least 30 years according to Ms Luke, although he hadn’t been diving for about a year.

“Mr Te Ahuru was also a qualified Boat Master and had worked as an honorary fisheries officer. Ms Luke told Police that Mr Te Ahuru was meticulous about safety, weather conditions and his equipment.”

The coroner has made a number of recommendations, including:

• Recreational divers should ensure they are medically fit to dive and should seek dive medical advice when there are any changes in their health, when they use or change medications, when they turn 45 years of age and at least every five years after.
• Diving equipment should be regularly serviced and must not be used if suspected to be faulty.
• Divers should always monitor air supply and end a dive when there is 50 bar remaining.

“I am satisfied that Mr Te Ahuru’s death was preventable,” the coroner wrote.

“As noted by the Police Dive Squad in its report, the contributory factors of Mr Te Ahuru’s hypertension and angina and the medications for such (contraindicative to diving), the out of date dive cylinder, the faulty second stage regulator, and the heavy sacks of kina causing increased effort by Mr Te Ahuru, have all combined on 6 February 2025 to create the situation which led to Mr Te Ahuru’s death.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Flocks of farm animals and food vendors are set to welcome thousands of people to Canterbury’s annual Agricultural & Pastoral Show, which is back with a more prestigious title.

The Royal A&P Show of New Zealand, hosted by The Canterbury A&P Association, is being held over three days from Thursday to Saturday.

It is the 162nd year of the event, with organisers promising a return to “full strength” after last year’s scaled back show.

The show was briefly put on ice last year after the association said it was not financially viable. But after a $5 million injection from the Christchurch City Council, and an almost complete overhaul of the board, it was resurrected in a downscaled format by the events company Event Hire.

Alongside the traditional events like sheep shearing and wood chopping, this year there was a new wool marquee with more than 30 exhibitors and a cowboy competition for horses and riders.

Canterbury A&P Association chair Sir David Carter said it was wonderful the show had received Royal status – the first time since 2010.

“The Royal Agricultural Society saw the way that we’d put the show together last year at very short notice, they were impressed by that. They approached us and asked us whether we’d consider being a Royal Show for 2025, we agreed and it has meant increased interest in the show, increased livestock entries, more exhibits and trade shows and ticket sales,” he said.

“We’re excited to see the show back to full strength after a challenging year in 2024.”

Sir David said the show had attracted more than 400 trade sites and livestock entries were well up on last year, with an increase in dairy cattle to 380, 267 beef cattle entries and more than 700 sheep.

It was the second year the show would run until Saturday.

“We trialled Saturday last year and it worked really well for us.

“It means that if Show Day itself is wet – the day we traditionally used to get the biggest crowds – then there’s also Saturday. The other real benefit is a reduction in traffic congestion on Show Day because the Saturday is available,” Sir David said.

Sir David said the wool exhibition was a highlight at this year’s event.

“We’ve got a large site devoted entirely to the industry of wool which is going under somewhat of a rejuvenation of interest. Included in that will be fashion shows both on Friday and Saturday which will take place around midday and in the shearing pavilion,” he said.

Andrew Stokes runs cattle competitions at the show. His family had been involved with the Canterbury show for more than 70 years.

“Livestock entries are very good, we had a massive year in the dairy side of things,” he said.

“There’s new exhibitors coming on which is really great to see the next generation starting to come through.

“One of our oldest exhibitors she’s 83 years old and still there cooking breakfast and leading cattle around so it’s good to see her wisdom going into the younger kids in the dairy side.”

Stokes said he got a buzz out of meeting people and explaining the farming life to people in town.

Competition christmas cakes and preserves were on display at the show.

Organiser Anne Rogers said it was the third year the cake competition was running and this year they decided to add in sauces, pickles, raspberry jam and marmalade.

She said a lot went into crafting the perfect Christmas cake.

“It’s quite tricky getting that perfect mix of fruit and cutting it up to be the right size, cooking it for long enough you basically have to dry a christmas cake rather than cook it,” she said.

“Judges look for texture, taste and appearance when they’re judging. It’s got to look good, edges need to be nice and square, it needs to be uniform, it needs to have a nice top on it, it needs to taste really good and it needs to be the right texture inside.”

Rogers said the products were judged last weekend, and the champion Christmas cake met the most points in that criteria while the winning preserve was a raspberry jam.

Sir David said the Canterbury A&P Association was on track to becoming financially sustainable, and had no plans to ask Christchurch City Council for more money.

The association had received a $250,000 council funding package across two years, on top of a $5 million bail-out last year.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

RNZ understands MPs Oriini Kaipara, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, Tākuta Ferris and a representative for Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke met without their party co-leaders.

It comes on the day the party was due to meet with the Iwi Chairs Forum in the aftermath of the National Council decision to expel Kapa-Kingi and Ferris.

Kaipara and Maipi-Clarke have not yet spoken publicly about the decision, but both have posted to social media since it was reported.

Kaipara, who posted on social media her support of Kapa-Kingi late last month, made a post directed at her electorate Tāmaki Makaurau.

“I am still here,” she wrote.

“Standing by you, for you and with you. The fight will continue, but for now rest is required.

“I won’t be long, I want us to come together, to meet, to talk. Very soon.”

Similarly, Maipi-Clarke wrote on social media, “Waikato, Kia mau.”

“I’ve made the decision for our rohe of Hauraki-Waikato to hold the line.”

She said she would speak in a week’s time, but for now, “remain calm, and have grace.”

“No one owns this movement, it belongs to the people.”

Asked about the meeting at Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said they were entitled to meet with “whoever they want to meet with”.

“We have every confidence in what the National Council has decided, and what they do for them is what they do for them,” she said.

Ngarewa-Packer said the leaders still had support from Kaipara and Maipi-Clarke.

Rawiri Waititi referenced the social media posts, saying “they have put out that they are holding the line”.

“And that line is to ensure that this is a one term government and we look forward to seeing them next week.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Survivors have criticised the government’s response to the Abuse in Care Royal Commission and have used the National Day of Reflection as a platform to call for promises to be kept.

A year on from the Prime Minister’s apology for abuse in care, survivors have come together at more than 60 events around the country.

In Christchurch, more than 100 survivors and their supporters gathered at Validation Park, the site of the former Marylands School where horrific abuse was inflicted on children.

Eddie Marriott – who suffered sexual, physical and psychological abuse at the hands of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School – said he was hurt no politicians joined survivors on Wednesday.

“They don’t want to front us, which is traumatising in itself because it’s like we don’t count,” Marriott said.

“That’s the thing – we’re not seen, not heard, not important.”

He said he was suffering from the heartache of promises not kept by the government.

At last November’s apology, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told survivors that a new independent redress scheme would be established and the government would “do the right thing by you and provide you with the support you need”.

In this year’s budget the government declined to create the independent redress system and only increased redress payments available to survivors by about $10,000 to an average of $30,000 – about a third of what survivors in Australia receive.

Mental Health Minister and Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey was invited to Wednesday’s event in Christchurch, but could not attend as he had to be in Wellington to attend parliament.

Hanz Freller, who this year received a King’s Service Medal for services to survivors, agreed with Marriott that the survivors were being forgotten.

“Where are the MPs? I would’ve thought that they would’ve been here today. Not all of them, of course, but definitely some of the more prominent ones who have overseen the Royal Commission … and they’re not and that’s really sad. They’re saying they’re here for us and they’re not – they’re not even here on our day,” Freller said.

Terry Kingi sat in parliament as the Prime Minister made the apology on behalf of the government last year.

“I’m very disappointed,” he said.

“The promises they made on the 12th of November last year in parliament do not reflect what we have seen a year later. There’s been a lot of broken promises, a lot of disillusion and a lot of survivors feel totally let down.”

David Williams, who suffered abuse in state care at boys homes and borstals, said the government’s words now seemed hollow.

“This Day of Reflection is for survivors. I don’t look at it as a year on from the apology because the apology didn’t mean nothing. It stood for nothing,” Williams said.

Advocate Ken Clearwater laid down a challenge to the government.

“Support survivors, don’t treat us as second-class citizens. We have lived experience and we know the damage that can be done and we also know what needs to be done for healing,” Clearwater said.

“It takes a village to raise a child. The government have had 100 years since the Children’s Act and you’ve f****d that up badly, so it’s time now that you gave the children back to the village.”

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