Media Statement
20/5/02

Millennium People Break Silence

1) Ernst & Young Reports

These reports are fundamentally flawed because the investigators were told by Millennium People (MPL) that MPL held relevant information of a written and verbal nature which it was likely they had not received. However, Ernst & Young did not speak to Millennium People at all, despite MPL giving them the opportunity to do so. (Refer attached letter).

2) Reference Checks

Millennium People were asked to do reference checks - which they did. They carried out five verbal referee checks with a range of people in Mr Davy’s professional and personal lives. However prior to this Millennium People put up six candidates for the Maori Television Service (MTS) CEO position.

MTS Board selection panel chose Mr Davy as the preferred candidate without input from MPL after interviewing Mr Davy themselves. After he was selected as the preferred candidate, MPL were asked to do referee checks as stated above.

Mr Davy was asked on three occasions and made declarations in relation to having no criminal convictions and adverse credit history.

MPL were not asked to do credit or security checks. MPL instructed, in writing, that credit and security checks be undertaken by the MTS board.

“ Mr Davy’s offer of employment should be subject to:
a) No adverse credit reports
b) Security clearances…..
[MTS to] complete verification of items a to c above.”

Source: MPL letter to MTS 13 March 2002

The board to the knowledge of MPL did not follow that advice.

3) Maori Television Contact Person

Mark Bullen was the MTS designated contact person as directed by the MTS chairman in accordance with the contract.

4) State Services Commission Report

The SSC did not investigate the reference checks at all and in respect of all other elements of the SSC inquiry Millennium People were vindicated. The SSC found that 12 of the 36 government departments and 7 crown entities had used MPL and there was no inadequacy of service delivery.

5) John Davy

Mr Davy is a convicted fraudster and people should not lose sight of the fact that he has successfully duped people around the world many times in the past 20 years.

Ends

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