Move follows calls to probe the agency for political neutrality issues
Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes has agreed to investigate Kāinga Ora following calls to probe the public housing agency for political neutrality matters.
Last week, New Zealand National Party’s (National) Housing and Urban Development spokesperson Nicola Willis urged Hughes to step in and probe Kāinga Ora for allegedly using taxpayers’ money to commission a paid advertisement about now Labour MP Arena Williams.
In a letter to the public service commissioner, Willis shared her “grave concerns about the disregard senior staff at Kāinga Ora appear to have regarding the basic standards of conduct and integrity expected of all public servants.”
“I am concerned that the Minister of Housing has not taken these issues seriously, having apparently failed to ensure anyone at Kāinga Ora has been held accountable, nor any changes in standards or policies made,” she said.
In response, Hughes agreed to investigate the issue, emphasising that “political neutrality and trustworthiness are [the] bottom line for the public service.”
“The matters that have been raised go to trust and confidence in a key public service agency,” he added.
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Willis revealed that the issue first emerged in June, with Housing Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods allegedly confirming the fact via email. In August, Willis obtained documents presenting that Kāinga Ora senior staff allegedly hiding their knowledge of Williams’s candidacy.
“I have released a series of emails that reveal contempt for the standards of integrity, honesty, and political neutrality that taxpayers have a right to expect from public servants,” Willis said. “Despite having read the documents, the minister did no more than slap Kāinga Ora with a wet bus ticket, having her staff member write an email to Kāinga Ora expressing concern.
“I am alarmed that, when I went public with this episode yesterday, Kāinga Ora continues to be dismissive of my concerns, releasing a media statement that made what appear to be false claims, specifically denying the involvement of more than one staff member in this episode, despite documents I have obtained showing other, more senior, staff were clearly involved.”
Following Hughes’s announcement, National released a statement welcoming the public service commissioner’s decision to investigate Kāinga Ora.
“[The Minister of Housing] has known about these matters since August. She could have initiated a thorough investigation then, but chose not to. That was a serious error which the Minister must now explain,” Willis said. “I am pleased that National’s efforts have ensured a thorough investigation of these matters will now ensue.”
