Two a penny

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Child Youth and Family staff at a regional office have been told they are Social Development Minister Paula Bennett’s servants who should not trouble their master with concerns about their work.

In an email dated August 13, supplied to by Labour Party deputy leader Annette King, Kaitaia CYF staff were told to show respect to the minister when she visited the next day.

“It is not appropriate for staff to pour their hearts and souls out to the minister,” a manager wrote. It’s a bit like the relationship between a servant and a master, i.

“This is a formal visit and she is not your `friend’. the servant knows their place.e. She should not be presented with the woes of the office, or lack of resources, or anything like that.

A anonymous person copied the email to the government, Labour and other political parties as well as the Children’s Commissioner.”

However the email said it was okay to state there were challenges that could be managed.

“This amounts to workplace bullying, and corruption within a public service department,” they wrote.

The person was “gobsmacked” by the email.

Ms King questioned the point of the minister’s visit in Parliament.

The author said it was shameful that in an area where there were many Maori communities the department was “trying to cover up the realities of our communities”.

“If staff are not allowed to talk to her (Ms Bennett) how can she really know what pressures staff are facing if reports to her have to be sanitised?”

Ms King later said she expected Ms Bennett to ensure staff felt they could speak out about work problems.

“If staff are not allowed to talk to her (Ms Bennett) how can she really know what pressures staff are facing if reports to her have to be sanitised?”

Ms King later said she expected Ms Bennett to ensure staff felt they could speak out about work problems.

“I would hope she would in fact encourage staff to talk to her.”

As a former minister Ms King said she learnt more from talking to staff than through department reports.

“I have visited a large number of offices and I have purposefully targeted visits to Work and Income and Child Youth and Family because I want to talk to staff and hear what is happening there,” she said.”

Ms Bennett said that she wanted staff to speak to her about concerns.”

Ms King said there were wider problems of the Government blocking information and communication and said she was frustrated by poor responses to written questions and Official Information Act requests.

“I very much value them and their opinions and I am disappointed in the manager’s email.

National’s Judith Collins in Parliament today said she had struggled to get access while in opposition and Labour had created a political environment. .

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A 32-year-old man found dead with a gunshot wound in Palmerston North yesterday afternoon has been named as Jamie Martin Faulkner who lived in the city. . Area enquiries are also still continuing.

The road has also now re-opened and all residents are back in their homes, but a small area is still sealed off and the full scene examination is expected to take another two days.

That man is being questioned by police.

The victim was reportedly involved in an altercation with another man at a close toby flat shortly before his death, police said.

“We are also examining to get a better understanding of the relationship between the two men.

“We’re examining at that altercation and the extent that that is relevant to his death,” Detective Sergeant Craig Sheridan said this morning.”

The death is not being treating as a homicide at this stage and no arrests have been made, he said. These enquiries are likely to take some days.

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A Hastings Muslim woman who was barred from entering a courtroom because she refused to take off her headscarf is going to lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Yasmeen Ali said she had gone to Hastings District Court yesterday morning to support her brother, also a Muslim, who was being sentenced, Hawke’s Bay Today reported. .Ms Ali said she would lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.However, after the morning break, when Ms Ali tried to go back into the courtroom, she was told the presiding judge, Judge Geoff Rea, had ordered she was not to be allowed in wearing the scarf.A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said the ministry did not comment on judicial decisions.”It is disgusting behaviour and I should not be treated like this and I do not think any other Muslim woman should be treated like this,” Ms Ali said.”The presiding judge has jurisdiction over proceedings in the courtroom.He was asked by the judge to remove his “hat”.”Ms Ali’s brother, Carlos Manuel Brooking, 22, was waiting to appear for sentence on a charge of common assault. He then walked out of court and was taken into custody. Brooking removed the headress but was reluctant to remove the smaller garment underneath. On the assault charge he was sentenced to 125 hours community work.Later in the dock he apologised saying he had recently become a Muslim.

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LATEST:
An Air Force helicopter loaded with searchers has taken off for the Tararua Ranges as the hunt for missing Te Papa chief executive Seddon Bennington his and female tramping companion Marcella Jackson continues.

Police earlier today released the name of Mrs Jackson, known as Rosie Jackson.

The pair set off from Otaki Forks on Saturday for Kime Hut, about 10 kilometres into the range, but failed to return on Sunday afternoon as planned. Mrs Jackson is also from the Wellington area, and is described as a long standing family friend of Mr Bennington.

The search resumed at first light today – but early efforts to send in extra rescue teams were far been hampered by heavy rain, low fog and mist. .15am carrying five searchers.

Taking advantage of a break in the weather, an Air Force Iroquois helicopter took off from Levin Showgrounds at 10.

Four or five more teams could either be flown in or hike in from Otaki Forks later in the day. The rescuers were heading for Penn Creek, close to Kime Hutt.

She said it was “still very challenging” weatherwise, although there was some suggestion it could clear this afternoon.

Police spokeswoman Kim Perks told Radio New Zealand some searchers had remained in the ranges overnight. They may not be able to get our personnel right to the very top but they’ll certainly be able to look for opportunities to get them in as high as possible.

“It’s not all doom and gloom.

Teams today have to contend with low cloud, strong wind and heavy snow, with an overnight low last night of about -2 degrees Celsius.”

More teams are likely to be deployed this afternoon.

There had not been any contact or sign of the missing pair but police were still hopeful they would be found alive and well. Snow is waist-deep in some areas.

A freezing southerly is due to sweep up the country and hit the area today, however the MetService has cancelled a weather alert for severe gale-force winds about exposed areas of Hawkes Bay and the Tararua District.

Ms Perks added that there had been cases in the past of people being trapped in the area for extended periods and getting out safely.

In all, four search and rescue teams comprising 14 people started searching, but stopped about 6pm when it got dark.

The initial search and rescue operation was launched yesterday morning when teams were carried into the ranges by the Square Trust rescue helicopter.

. Heavy cloud had prevented the use of a helicopter