Mahuta directly appointed a relative
The Herald reports:
Government minister Nanaia Mahuta put her young relative Waimirirangi Ormsby on a list of candidates for a paid appointment to the working group that produced the He Puapua report, documents released to the Herald under the provisions of the OIA indicate.
Mahuta recently suggested to the media that decision-making for the appointments was made by officials. It’s also controversial because the Cabinet Manual – which guides Government Ministers in matters of conflict of interest including the appearance of a conflict – recommends, though the language is not absolute, that where a minister has a conflict of interest and also has ministerial responsibility, mitigation should go farther than a simple declaration of interest.
Last month, Mahuta told reporters that questions about the appointment of Waimirirangi Ormsby should be directed to the department: “That’s a matter for Te Puni Kōkiri, there were a number of names that were put up in relation to, I think, the working group you’re referring to, and that was last term. Yeah, so there were a number of names with a number of requisite skills and a number of considerations but the point at which I saw that, by recollection, was at the point where a shortlist was made and those decisions were made by the department.”
The briefing document of May 28, 2019, prepared for Mahuta, stated: “We ask that you consider the range of potential appointees, and select a total of five individuals, who you wish to put forward for appointment. When you have selected the individuals you wish to appoint, the next stage of the process is for us to confirm their availability and willingness to be appointed.”
So Mahuta claimed the official decide, but the OIA documents reveal Mahuta in fact decided.
Last week, Mahuta declined to answer questions about the discrepancy between her comments and the briefing.
A spokesperson said “there’s nothing further to add to previous comments to [the] NZ Herald on this question.”
What can they say? You caught us out!