Latest news with #BrianRoche
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
For the love of leaks
Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche issued a memo to government staff warning against leaks of sensitive information - a memo that was subsequently leaked to RNZ. Editor of Richard Harman joins Emile Donovan to talk about receiving leaks, how journalists can use them, and what leaks say about the government agencies they originate from. Photo: Reece Baker/RNZ
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
'Chilling effect': Union raises concerns over ministers' interference after leaks
Public service organisations have been urged to "take every possible action" to shut down leaking. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Stronger whistleblowing laws and more emphasis on free and frank advice are needed to balance out a crackdown on leaks, the Public Service Association (PSA) union says. The campaign against leaks was exposed in a leaked email from a department boss to staff, after Commissioner Sir Brian Roche urged chief executives to "take every possible action" to shut down leaking, including sacking those found responsible where appropriate. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said such dismissals would require fair process. "We don't condone leaking, but we cannot see a blanket rule that public servants are dismissed when leaks occur. New Zealand law requires a full and fair investigation process, and employers have to enter that process with an open mind," she said. "Public servants must not leak. But there is a legal duty to provide free and frank advice to the government of the day, and we'd like to see the government also reiterating those expectations alongside these messages about leaking." Pointing to an academic article by Massey's Richard Shaw and Victoria University of Wellington's Chris Eichbaum from 2023, she said there had been a chilling effect on the provision of free and frank advice over multiple governments. "Our members have reported to us that they have been advised not to provide certain commentary in advice or to only do so via phone and that there is direct ministerial involvement in matters that would usually sit within departments," she said. "We saw this with the approach taken to the survey of public servants recently. The chilling effect of this is exacerbated in an environment of constant cuts and job losses." She said Associate Health Minister Casey Costello making accusations in November about a public servant for internal communications about heated tobacco products was another case. PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The PSA at the time wrote to Sir Brian saying that would have a chilling effect, made worse by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's comments that "appear to conflate this case with a separate issue from last month". Fitzsimons urged the government to look at strengthening New Zealand's whistleblowing law, the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022. "The current whistleblowing laws in New Zealand put a very high threshold on serious wrongdoing. We would call on government to review those laws, but at the end of the day public servants shouldn't leak, it's not professional to do so, and we advise against it." The Act limits whistleblowing to exposing "serious wrongdoing", which includes posing a serious risk to health, safety, or the maintenance of law, corrupt or irregular use of public funds or resources, or breaking the law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that when leaks happened it undermined the public service as a whole. "They do the public service a big disservice frankly and the public's trust in the public service is a problem and that's why I think it's pretty unfair because we've got some great public servants in New Zealand, we're very well served by some awesome people. "We've always had leaking in different governments but it's ultimately up to individuals are trusted to serve the government of the day and to do so in a politically neutral way." ACT leader David Seymour said those found leaking should "absolutely" face repercussions. He had this message for public servants: "Your career as a public servant is a part of your life. For all of your life you're going to be invested in this country working and you have no right to undermine the constitutional setup and framework that has made this country a success, that you've benefited from. "Some of the people who are the people leaking would really struggle to get a job outside the cocoon of the public service, because in the private sector honesty and integrity are highly valued." He said the public service was "far too large" and "if we want to start reducing it maybe we need to leak out a few leakers". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
New Zealand government is leaking info and finding a culprit in media
New Zealand Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche addresses internal leaks amid ongoing investigations across government departments Synopsis The New Zealand government continues to struggle with unauthorized leaks from public servants, prompting investigations and internal warnings. Recent disclosures highlight ongoing concerns about information security, with the Education Ministry launching an external probe and the Public Service Commissioner reinforcing measures to prevent further leaks Government email leak reveals crackdown on public servants ADVERTISEMENT Such is the state of affairs within the New Zealand government that an email to ensure sensitive information is not leaked to the media also finds its way to news outlets. The leaked internal email revealed a new crackdown by the New Zealand government aimed at stopping unauthorized disclosures by public servants. The message, attributed to Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, urged employees to cease leaking sensitive information, emphasizing that such actions violate the core values of the public service. The email was circulated on May 22, hours after RNZ reported on a court injunction blocking its publication of confidential pre-Budget documents. Roche instructed agency heads to investigate leaks thoroughly and remove responsible employees where appropriate. He highlighted that leaking information undermines the government of the day and breaches the public service code of conduct. Also read: New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis' budget 2025 full speech: Trump's tariffs, slow growth, economic challenges Education Ministry initiates external leak investigationIn response to continued leaks, the Education Ministry announced an independent investigation led by Michael Heron KC. The ministry's acting deputy secretary, Rob Campbell, sent an email to staff expressing concern over recent unauthorized disclosures damaging organizational trust and ministry invited RNZ to discuss potential information shared with the outlet, an invitation RNZ declined to protect confidential sources. Campbell's message noted that breaches compromise the integrity of the public service and confirmed plans to review information-sharing protocols and internal policies, including the ministry's Speak Up policy and protected disclosure guidelines. ADVERTISEMENT Ongoing leak incidents across public service agenciesRecent months have seen multiple leak incidents within New Zealand's public service. RNZ reported documents indicating planned cuts to the $118 million Kahui Ako education program and internal feedback on health data team reductions. Leaked reports from the Interislanders ferries advisory group and material relating to the Treaty Principles Bill also surfaced. ADVERTISEMENT Also read: New Zealand sees surge in golden visa applications following policy reforms, wealthy Americans lead the wayThe government's inability to control these leaks points to systemic issues in managing sensitive information. Public Service Commissioner Roche reiterated the need for chief executives to uphold confidentiality and maintain public trust, reinforcing consequences for those responsible for leaks. ADVERTISEMENT Opposition voices highlight culture of frustration among public servantsCritics argue that the prevalence of leaks reflects deeper dissatisfaction within the public service. Green Party public service spokesperson Francisco Hernandez linked the issue to ministers allegedly ignoring or censoring evidence-based advice, fostering frustration among officials. Hernandez acknowledged that while leaks are not condoned, they are symptomatic of an unhealthy culture and diminishing respect for democratic called for a balanced approach, urging the Public Service Commissioner to ensure ministers respect the neutrality and integrity of the public service alongside cracking down on actions has the New Zealand government taken to address leaks by public servants? ADVERTISEMENT The government has issued internal warnings through emails from Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, emphasizing that leaks violate public service values. Additionally, agencies are instructed to investigate leaks thoroughly and take disciplinary actions, including termination when appropriate. The Education Ministry has also launched an independent external investigation led by Michael Heron KC. Why did RNZ decline to participate in the Education Ministry's leak investigation? RNZ declined the invitation to meet with the Education Ministry's investigator to protect the confidentiality of its sources. Protecting anonymous sources is a core journalistic principle and is key to maintaining trust and information flow. What kinds of information have been leaked recently within New Zealand's public service? Recent leaks have included confidential pre-Budget documents, plans to cut the $118 million Kahui Ako education program, internal feedback on health data team reductions, reports from the Interislanders ferries advisory group, and material related to the Treaty Principles Bill. What concerns have been raised about the culture within New Zealand's public service related to leaks? Critics suggest leaks are a symptom of frustration among public servants who feel their evidence-based advice is ignored or censored by ministers. This dissatisfaction is seen as contributing to an unhealthy culture and declining respect for democratic processes. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates. NEXT STORY
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
New Zealand government is leaking info and finding a culprit in media
Government email leak reveals crackdown on public servants Such is the state of affairs within the New Zealand government that an email to ensure sensitive information is not leaked to the media also finds its way to news outlets. The leaked internal email revealed a new crackdown by the New Zealand government aimed at stopping unauthorized disclosures by public servants. The message, attributed to Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche , urged employees to cease leaking sensitive information, emphasizing that such actions violate the core values of the public service. The email was circulated on May 22, hours after RNZ reported on a court injunction blocking its publication of confidential pre-Budget documents. Roche instructed agency heads to investigate leaks thoroughly and remove responsible employees where appropriate. He highlighted that leaking information undermines the government of the day and breaches the public service code of conduct . Also read: New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis' budget 2025 full speech: Trump's tariffs, slow growth, economic challenges Education Ministry initiates external leak investigation In response to continued leaks, the Education Ministry announced an independent investigation led by Michael Heron KC. The ministry's acting deputy secretary, Rob Campbell, sent an email to staff expressing concern over recent unauthorized disclosures damaging organizational trust and professionalism. Live Events The ministry invited RNZ to discuss potential information shared with the outlet, an invitation RNZ declined to protect confidential sources. Campbell's message noted that breaches compromise the integrity of the public service and confirmed plans to review information-sharing protocols and internal policies, including the ministry's Speak Up policy and protected disclosure guidelines. Ongoing leak incidents across public service agencies Recent months have seen multiple leak incidents within New Zealand's public service. RNZ reported documents indicating planned cuts to the $118 million Kahui Ako education program and internal feedback on health data team reductions. Leaked reports from the Interislanders ferries advisory group and material relating to the Treaty Principles Bill also surfaced. Also read: New Zealand sees surge in golden visa applications following policy reforms, wealthy Americans lead the way The government's inability to control these leaks points to systemic issues in managing sensitive information. Public Service Commissioner Roche reiterated the need for chief executives to uphold confidentiality and maintain public trust, reinforcing consequences for those responsible for leaks. Opposition voices highlight culture of frustration among public servants Critics argue that the prevalence of leaks reflects deeper dissatisfaction within the public service. Green Party public service spokesperson Francisco Hernandez linked the issue to ministers allegedly ignoring or censoring evidence-based advice, fostering frustration among officials. Hernandez acknowledged that while leaks are not condoned, they are symptomatic of an unhealthy culture and diminishing respect for democratic principles. Hernandez called for a balanced approach, urging the Public Service Commissioner to ensure ministers respect the neutrality and integrity of the public service alongside cracking down on leaks. FAQs on New Zealand Government leaks and public service investigations What actions has the New Zealand government taken to address leaks by public servants? The government has issued internal warnings through emails from Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, emphasizing that leaks violate public service values. Additionally, agencies are instructed to investigate leaks thoroughly and take disciplinary actions, including termination when appropriate. The Education Ministry has also launched an independent external investigation led by Michael Heron KC. Why did RNZ decline to participate in the Education Ministry's leak investigation? RNZ declined the invitation to meet with the Education Ministry's investigator to protect the confidentiality of its sources. Protecting anonymous sources is a core journalistic principle and is key to maintaining trust and information flow. What kinds of information have been leaked recently within New Zealand's public service? Recent leaks have included confidential pre-Budget documents, plans to cut the $118 million Kahui Ako education program, internal feedback on health data team reductions, reports from the Interislanders ferries advisory group, and material related to the Treaty Principles Bill. What concerns have been raised about the culture within New Zealand's public service related to leaks? Critics suggest leaks are a symptom of frustration among public servants who feel their evidence-based advice is ignored or censored by ministers. This dissatisfaction is seen as contributing to an unhealthy culture and declining respect for democratic processes.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Drip, drip, drip: NZ's biggest political leaks
Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has issued a fresh directive to public servants to stop leaking sensitive information. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has issued a fresh directive to public servants to stop leaking sensitive information after a wave of material finding its way to the media. One problem: an email containing that instruction was promptly leaked to RNZ . Here are some recent stories to eventuate from leaks in recent history: RNZ was blocked from publishing a story earlier this month after sighting a confidential pre-Budget document related to the education portfolio . The Attorney-General was granted an emergency injunction by the High Court after arguing the document contained "commercially sensitive information" which would damage the government's ability to engage in collective bargaining. The National-ACT-NZ First coalition's term has been coloured by an unusually large number of leaks from the public service. They include: Former Health NZ IT worker Barry Young was arrested in 2023 and charged with accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes. He stands accused of leaking personal Covid-19 vaccine data relating to at least 12,000 people. Hamish Walker and Michelle Boag. Photo: RNZ & Boag Allan SvG In 2020, then-National backbencher Hamish Walker admitted leaking information containing Covid-19 patient information to media. The details included the full names, addresses, ages and quarantine locations of 18 active Covid-19 cases. Former National president Michelle Boag - then acting chief executive of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust - subsequently revealed she was the person who shared the material with Walker. Both Walker and Boag resigned from their respective roles amid the backlash. Though not a leak in the traditional sense, the opposition National Party released sensitive details about the 2019 Budget ahead of its official release. Treasury initially claimed it had been "deliberately and systematically hacked" but it was later revealed National had simply accessed the documents using the website's search function. Former National leader Simon Bridges. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Simon Bridges commissioned a no-holds-barred inquiry in 2018 after details of his travel and accommodation expenses were leaked to Newshub. The PwC investigation was unable to identify the leaker with certainty but said the evidence pointed to then-MP Jami-Lee Ross. The findings set off an extraordinary cascade of events beginning with Ross' expulsion from the caucus. Ross then released politically embarrassing secret recordings of Bridges. Ross also went to the police with criminal allegations which ultimately ended up before the courts - though with Ross in the crosshairs, not Bridges. Ultimately, everyone charged was found not guilty. Weeks out from the 2017 election, an anonymous tipster told media Winston Peters had been overpaid the pension for seven years to the tune of nearly $18,000. Following media enquiries Peters issued a statement confirming most of the allegations and revealing he had since paid the money back. Furious at the leak, the NZ First leader later launched legal action against senior public servants and former Cabinet ministers - including Paula Bennett, Anne Tolley, Brendan Boyle and Peter Hughes. Peters ultimately lost the High Court case and subsequent appeal.
