March 09, 2014
TVNZ warned on political witch hunt
The State Services Commissioner has warned TVNZ against making staff reveal their political affiliations.
Iain Rennie says it’s a crude and heavy-handed response the situation which led to the departure of Shane Taurima as manager of the Maori and Pacific unit.
Mr Taurima quit after it was revealed that a meeting of Labour’s Tamaki Makaurau branch held a meeting at TVNZ, and work email accounts were used to organise a January Labour hui on winning back the Maori vote.
TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick told a select committee hearing he may require staff to reveal political allegiances.
Mr Rennie says would not be appropriate for any organisation in the State Services to monitor or keep a register of their staff's political views or affiliations.
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