March 02, 2023
National protected from co-governance comments
Leading businessman Rob Campbell has lost his second public service position for his defence of co-governance.
Environment Minister David Parker says he has removed Mr Campbell from his role as chair and board member of the Environmental Protection Authority.
He says he has accepted the Public Service Commissioner’s advice that Mr Campbell’s LinkedIn comments in relation to National’s policies and its leader is a clear breach of the Code of Conduct requirements that he act politically impartially and retains his ability to work effectively under current and future governments.
His subsequent public comments in the media suggest he does not accept the constraints he is under as a member and chair of a Crown Entity Board.
On Tuesday Mr Campbell was sacked as chair of Te Whaut Ora, the New Zealand Health Authority, for saying National’s three waters’ replacement plan was a dog whistle against sharing governance with Maori on critical infrastructure.