David Burton is an employment law barrister.
OPINION: The Public Services Commissioner has written to the Chairs and Chief Executives of the public service reminding them of their obligations to be impartial and that they and their entities are subject to the Code of Conduct for the public service.
This has arisen out of allegations of bias on the part of senior governance figures in the public service.
Rob Campbell, the former chair of Te Whatu Ora/Health NZ and the Environmental Protection Authority criticised the leader of the National Party and likened the National Party's Three Waters policy to a "thin disguise for the dog whistle on co-governance". He refused to accept that he had done anything wrong, even though he is meant to have apologised to the leader of the National Party and the Minister of Health.
READ MORE:
* School strike: What rights do parents have to take leave?
* We need to protect all workers' rights, not just employees
* The chequered legislative history of employment reinstatement
Former Labour MP, Steve Maharey, in opinion pieces in the media, has made comments that could be read as politically partial. When the issue arose around Campbell, Maharey front footed the matter and raised it with the Public Service Commission and his Ministers. He offered his resignation as Chair of Pharmac, ACC and Education New Zealand.
Another former Labour MP, Ruth Dyson, is Deputy Chair of the Earthquake Commission and Fire and Emergency New Zealand and has also...
A message claiming to offer free laptops to students has been widely circulated online. The message asks students to apply under the supposed ‘National Student Laptop Scheme 2026’, giving the impr...