Phil Heatley MP
National Party Housing Spokesman
4 June 2006
New HNZ claims fuel call for committee probe
National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says the latest allegations levelled by a Housing New Zealand insider add
weight to his call for a wide select committee inquiry into the tax-funded Corporation.
“Clearly there’s not time for the new allegations to be included in the report which has been carried out by the Auditor
General. I plan to write to the Social Services Select Committee and expand my earlier request for a wider look at
what’s going on at HNZ.”
Mr Heatley is responding to fresh reports alleging unauthorised and excessive spending, and a lack of procedures to
handle the problems. Meanwhile, a draft report on earlier allegations is complete and awaiting public release.
“This no longer looks like a one-off incident. Now we’ve had a second insider saying the first whistleblower's
difficulties in raising concerns echoed his own experience.
“These public servants were both trying to raise legitimate concerns. The taxpayer deserves to know whether this is part
of a problem culture at the upper levels of HNZ.”
Mr Heatley is calling on Housing Minister Chris Carter to back the select committee inquiry.
“I’m sure Mr Carter will want the opportunity to restore public confidence in the processes that are in place within his
department.”
Ends