Listen Now: 
Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes has found no evidence of favouritism, bias, or undue influence over agency decisions by Cabinet Minister Nanaia Mahuta in relation to contracts award to companies connected to her family.
But a review of how public service agencies managed conflicts of interest found flaws in the processes followed by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry for the Environment.
Ms Mahuta asked for the review after sustained attacks on the contracts awarded to Ka Awatea Services Ltd and Kawai Catalyst Ltd.
Four agencies were found to have had such contracts.
The review found Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry for the Environment failed to properly identify and manage perceived conflicts because they didn’t follow what were otherwise sound agency policies and processes.
A minor perceived conflict with Kāinga Ora was not identified because the agency failed to ask about conflicts of interest during the contracting process, and while there were no conflicts of interest in relation to Department of Conservation contracts, its contract management was poor.
The review did not identify any matter that would require referral to another oversight body.
Mr Hughes says he will issue expanded conflicts of interest model standards to agencies, strengthening the controls around identifying and managing conflicts, and write to all chief executives outlining his expectations in this area.
RELATED NEWS
