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    Letter From Hon Parker

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    Thomas Coughlan
    The Minister for the Environment dismisses the Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority board for breaching obligations of political neutrality. The Chair had publicly criticized the Leader of the Opposition, which violated the code of conduct for Crown entity board members. Despite disagreeing on the code's requirements, the Minister has lost confidence in the Chair's ability to effectively continue in the role.

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    Letter From Hon Parker

    Uploaded by

    Thomas Coughlan
    20K views2 pages
    The Minister for the Environment dismisses the Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority board for breaching obligations of political neutrality. The Chair had publicly criticized the Leader of the Opposition, which violated the code of conduct for Crown entity board members. Despite disagreeing on the code's requirements, the Minister has lost confidence in the Chair's ability to effectively continue in the role.

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    David Parker to Rob Campbell

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    The Minister for the Environment dismisses the Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority board for breaching obligations of political neutrality. The Chair had publicly criticized the Leader of the Opposition, which violated the code of conduct for Crown entity board members. Despite disagreeing on the code's requirements, the Minister has lost confidence in the Chair's ability to effectively continue in the role.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    20K views2 pages

    Letter From Hon Parker

    Uploaded by

    Thomas Coughlan
    The Minister for the Environment dismisses the Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority board for breaching obligations of political neutrality. The Chair had publicly criticized the Leader of the Opposition, which violated the code of conduct for Crown entity board members. Despite disagreeing on the code's requirements, the Minister has lost confidence in the Chair's ability to effectively continue in the role.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    2 March 2023

    Mr Rob Campbell
    Chair
    Environmental Protection Authority
    [email protected]

    Dear Rob

    Thank you for your response to my letter of 1 March 2023, which I have considered.

    We are clearly in disagreement about the meaning of the Code of Conduct for Crown Entity
    Board Members, its impact on you as a Crown Entity Board member and what the public
    service principle of political neutrality in the Public Service Act requires of you.

    While I accept that you retain some freedom to express personal opinions in areas of
    endeavour outside your core governance responsibilities, your public service governance
    roles come with legal obligations of neutrality and the code of conduct, which limit that. Clearly,
    you should not have attacked the Leader of the Opposition as you did.

    I have also considered whether it is disproportionate to remove you from the Board of the EPA
    in light of the Minister of Health’s dismissal decision earlier this week.

    Your response (which in your public comments suggested there may be an ulterior motive for
    your dismissal) does not allow me to conclude that you understand the significance and
    importance of political neutrality in terms of the Act and the Code’s requirements that you act
    politically impartially and retain your ability to work effectively under current and future
    governments.

    It is apparent that we hold divergent views on the nature and extent of the Code of Conduct
    obligations you have as a Crown Entity board member and Chair.

    That disagreement is a fundamental one. Having considered the matter, along with your
    response, I have accepted the Public Service Commissioner’s advice that your LinkedIn post
    and subsequent public comments constitute a breach of the fundamental obligations on you.
    I no longer have confidence that you are able to effectively continue as member or Chair of
    the EPA.

    You are a person of strong opinions and brave in your expression of them. It is clear that being
    able to express them unedited is important to you.

    I note your request for a meeting so you can apologise in person and establish any protocols
    or procedures (around future public commentary by you) to avoid any future misunderstanding
    between us, and to ensure the public’s trust in the EPA is maintained.

    I accept your apology and there is no reason for you to deliver that in person. I do not see any
    need to meet to establish protocols or procedures, because I am satisfied that existing policies
    adequately cover the issue and are widely understood and applied by other Crown entity
    members.

    I now dismiss you as member of the EPA Board under s 36 Crown Entities Act, with effect
    from today. In accordance with Schedule 5 this has the effect of ending your term as Chair.

    Despite this decision, I wish to acknowledge the good work you have done at the EPA. I have
    enjoyed working with you and wish you well for the future.

    Yours sincerely

    Hon David Parker


    Minister for the Environment

    cc: The Board, Environmental Protection Authority


    James Palmer, Chief Executive, Ministry for the Environment
    Peter Hughes, Public Service Commissioner, Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service
    Commission

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