Labour MP makes allegations of bullying at parliament
Responding to a former Labour MP who said they were appalled at his ill-discipline in going to the media, Gaurav Sharma said he’d made multiple complaints over the last 18 months
Mōrena and welcome to The Bulletin for Friday, August 12, by Anna Rawhiti-Connell. Presented in partnership with Z Energy.
In today’s edition: more people leaving New Zealand leaving than arriving; doctor alleged to have used fake documents to get job as doctor named; Bernard Hickey talks to James Shaw about climate change adaptation; but first, the allegations of bullying from Labour backbencher.
Gaurav Sharma and Jacinda Ardern on the campaign trail in 2020.
MP alleges there is a “rampant culture of bullying” in parliament
Yesterday afternoon, Labour MP for Hamilton West, Gaurav Sharma published what has been described as an “extraordinary” opinion piece in the Herald. He alleges that “when an MP raises serious concerns the Parliamentary Service steps back, stonewalls the conversation, ghosts the MP and throws them to the Whip's Office to be gaslighted and victimised further so that the party can use the information to threaten you about your long-term career prospects.” Sharma took aim at the speaker Trevor Mallard, parliamentary services, the whips office, the office of the leader of the opposition and the prime minister’s office.
Labour colleagues blindsided, whip confirms employment matters being worked through
It’s “extraordinary” because of the nature of the allegations and the offices and people Sharma has cited. It’s also unusual for an MP to use an opinion piece in this manner. Labour MP for Papakura Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki said the column had come as a complete surprise. Sharma is a fairly new MP, elected in 2020 and the Labour caucus has maintained a very united front and high levels of discipline over the last two years. Louisa Wall’s departure has been the only real sore spot on this front over that time. Labour’s chief whip Duncan Webb issued a statement last night saying “We’ve been working with Parliamentary Services and Gaurav to address employment matters in his office. We had been working to provide support for Gaurav and find a solution.”
Opposition MP describes Sharma as a “brave man”
Sharma cited Louisa Wall and referenced this week’s event surrounding Sam Uffindell. National MP Chris Bishop described Sharma as a “brave man”. Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero dismissed the allegations that the service worked with parties to disrupt complaints processes. It remains unclear what prompted Sharma's complaints and he has refused to comment further except to say: "I am not the bully." When asked by the Herald who the bully or bullies were, Sharma said: "We'll find out."
Multiple complaints made over the last 18 months
In analysis published this morning, Toby Manhire details an exchange between former Labour MP and union organiser Darien Fenton and Sharma which Sharma posted last night. Fenton said “I am appalled by your ill discipline in mouthing off in the media,” she said. Sharma responded saying “Mind your own business. I have made multiple complaints through proper channels including to the PMO over the last 1.5 years and nothing has been done.” Manhire also notes that although Sharma doesn’t name prime minister Jacinda Ardern, “who else would he have us thinking of in the thundering final paragraph?” he writes.
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Man alleged to have posed as doctor to work at Middlemore Hospital named
Stuff has named the man who is alleged to have used fake documents to get a job as a doctor at the Auckland hospital. Yuvaraj Krishnan began working at Middlemore in February and was stood down on August 1. Health minister Andrew Little was notified of the incident on Wednesday, a week after Krishnan was stood down. Counties Manukau’s chief medical officer Dr Andrew Connolly said the care of every patient seen by Krishnan had been reviewed and a “thorough” investigation showed there had been “no compromise” to any patient’s care. The health district is undertaking a full investigation into its employment vetting processes.
Migrant arrivals to New Zealand at lowest level since 1990
Stats NZ released its international migration statistics yesterday. In the year to June 2022, there were 49,200 migrant arrivals and 60,700 migrant departures. For New Zealand citizens there were 20,000 and 24,600 departures. Looking at the overall arrivals and departures between June 2019 and June 2022, there was a big dip when borders closed in late March of 2020 but overall there aren’t large dramatic spikes or falls. Tehseen Islam from Stats NZ said “Migrant departures of New Zealand citizens were still significantly lower than pre-Covid levels”. On a related note, Stuff’s Keith Lynch takes a thorough look at the statement made by the National Party in July that said “1 million New Zealanders are actively considering leaving the country”.
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Is your property a climate change hot potato?
If climate change projections make their way to Land Information Memorandums, owners of coastal properties may find themselves struggling to stay afloat long before waves start lapping at their door. Vulnerable properties will become uninsurable causing banks to withhold lending – suddenly passing on that slice of hot potato paradise will be near impossible. James Shaw joins Bernard Hickey in the latest episode of When the Facts Change to talk about the real meaning of climate change adaptation and who's responsible for funding infrastructure that will mitigate the effects of climate change.
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It’s Friday so…enjoy this conversation between a 41 and 22 year old
“I got given a vintage cassette tape and player and I thought it was great until I realised I’d have to rewind it myself. I didn’t know how to rewind it. I was like, this sucks.” Stuff’s Amberleigh Jack explains walkmans, Y2K and telethons to her colleague, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith.
If you’re not totally sick of the news…
I’ll be on Today FM this morning with Shane Te Pou around 7.50am-ish to discuss the events of the week.
