‘Dumb decisions made’ in Wilce affair – Defence Chief
New Zealand’s chief of defence says “dumb decisions” were made in appointing a former general manager of a kitset home
company to head the country’s defence technology agency, ignoring complaints about the candidate even before the man
began his employment.
A Court of Inquiry report released Thursday brought to light new information about the appointment of Stephen Joyce as director of the New Zealand Defence Force’s
Defence Technology Agency in July 2005.
Wilce resigned in September this year after a 60 Minutes investigation revealed Wilce had repeatedly lied and exaggerated to other staff about his accomplishments, including
claims he had been on the British Olympic bobsled team and held a Masters’ degree in astrophysics.
The report says two witnesses told the Court they had approached defence personnel and the New Zealand Security
Intelligence Service with concerns about Wilce as soon as his appointment was announced.
One of the witnesses said his daughter, a major, had passed his concerns on to senior defence staff – but one of the
officials she contacted told the court he only vaguely recalled the discussion and could not recall any action taken.
The other official said he did not recall any conversation with the witness specifically, but a woman had told him Mr
Wilce had made an “exorbitant claim” about being decorated for bravery.
But these concerns were never put in writing, he said.
Both witnesses said they had rung the NZSIS directly to express concerns about Wilce, but intelligence officials told
the court they had been unable to find any record of those conversations.
Once Wilce began working at the agency his tall stories quickly became “part of the lunchroom gossip”, the report said.
The revelations have been a public embarrassment for the country’s defence force, raising serious questions about its
internal complaints process and hiring policies.
Chief of Defence General Jerry Mateparae told reporters Thursday Wilce’s actions had damaged morale at the Defence
Technology Agency and hurt the defence force’s reputation.
But he could not say whether other, similar complaints had been investigated appropriately.
“I cannot answer unequivocally whether another Stephen Wilce is in the NZDF… I can say our processes – used properly –
have been successful.
“There were some dumb decisions made, but people are people.”
Mateparae said the affair had highlighted poor performance in the defence force’s recruitment process and its response
to concerns raised.
He said he accepted the court’s findings and directed that changes based on its recommendations be made immediately.
But despite the scandal, the general said there would be no legal action against Wilce or Momentum Consulting, the
recruitment firm which vetted him.
The Court of Inquiry found Wilce had misled and embellished on his CV, but most of his representations to the hiring
panel were lies by omission.
As Wilce was no longer employed by the agency he could not be prosecuted.
The Court found Momentum did not meet the “higher standard of thoroughness required by its contract with the Crown”, but
did not have jurisdiction to determine a breach of contract.
Mateparae said Momentum had received $70,000 for the Wilce contract but the NZDF would not seek to recoup the money.
Momentum had met its contractual obligations to check Wilce’s referees, he said.
ENDS