Commission disciplines staff member for third time

8 July 2011

The Human Rights Commission has disciplined staff member Marama Davidson for a third time in four months for a fresh outburst of defamatory comments she made against Matarahurahu hapu leader David Rankin.

The latest attack by Ms Davidson came just a day after HRC commissioner, Rosslyn Noonan, disciplined Ms Davidson for a previous verbal assault she made at Mr Rankin. At that time, Ms Noonan promised that Ms Davidson had been brought under control and that no such incident would be repeated. It was, just 24 hours later.

Mr Rankin is currently considering his options, which he says may include defamation action against the HRC “If Ms Davidson and her boss, Ms Noonan, had shown event the slightest sense of responsibility, they would have issued a proper apology, but there has been nothing”, says Mr Rankin. “It is as though they are accountable to no-one”.

On each occasion that Ms Davidson has been disciplined, the HRC has refused to reveal what the discipline was, despite the Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan leading very public campaigns recently about the need for state agencies to be more open in their dealings with the public. “As a member of the public”, said Mr Rankin, “I have got no details at all. As far as I can see, the person who publically attacked me on three separate occasions has got a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket”.

“If the Employers and Manufacturers Association head can be dismissed for one poorly-chosen comment”, says Mr Rankin, “then surely the Human Rights Commission’s behavior demands that heads should roll. Clearly, no member of the New Zealand public can have any confidence in Ms Noonan's abilities to manage her staff any more”.

ENDS

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