August 10, 2018
Police upset at bullying leak
Police have broken their silence over the shower of allegations being thrown over the appointment of Wally Haumaha as deputy commissioner and have challenged the latest report by the New Zealand Herald.
The newspaper claimed three women working on a 2015 project about improving justice outcomes for Māori walked out of Police National Headquarters and refused to return because of Mr Haumaha's alleged bullying behaviour towards them.
The police confirm there were officials from Ministry of Justice and the Department of Corrections working on the project, and issues were raised about progress.
These issues did not include allegations about bullying.
However, an allegation of bullying was made to Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement by a third party, external to all agencies.
Mr Clement immediately made contact with the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Corrections to request more information and advise that the staff involved could make a complaint, but no further information or complaints were forthcoming.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has expressed frustration with the way allegations about Mr Haumaha are being drip fed as the Government tries to get an independent inquiry under way into the appointment process.
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