High-ranking cop Wally Haumaha belittled and humiliated staff, police watchdog says

Wednesday, 19 December 2018

Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha faces criticism for inappropriate conduct in an IPCA report.

Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha has intimidated and humiliated two women staffers, according to the police watchdog.

A report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found two instances where the high-ranking cop aggressively asserted authority and belittled staff from Ministry of Justice and Corrections during a high-pressure project in 2016.

After the bullying allegations emerged in August, Haumaha took legal advice and improperly asked fellow officers and others to support him, and circulated information about a complainant in an attempt to discredit her.

The report, which was due to be released at 12pm Thursday but has appeared online, is one of three to come from a series of allegations that have beleaguered Haumaha since his promotion to deputy commissioner in May.

* High stakes for Haumaha has supporters nervous

* Departments' handling of bullying allegations may be inspected**

National Party leader Simon Bridges is now calling for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to dismiss Haumaha.

'It was Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who appointed Wally Haumaha. She now has to take responsibility and dismiss the man that she appointed to one of the most senior and powerful roles in the country,' Bridges said in a statement.

'It would be unconscionable for Mr Haumaha to stay in this constitutionally important role given the seriousness of the IPCA findings.'

Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha intimidated and humiliated two women staffers, according to the police watchdog.

It is understood Ardern is still considering the report and taking advice.

The report said Haumaha's behaviour met the common understanding of bullying, but was not persistent in a way required of WorkSafe's definition of workplace bullying.

No recommendations were made in the report.

Two women, Ministry of Justice and Corrections staffers, laid formal bullying complaints over Haumaha's actions during the joint project aimed at improving the outcomes of Māori in 2016.

The project demanded long hours and was fraught with tension. Doherty noted there was a clash between police's unquestioning hierarchical structure and the 'question the questions' perspective held by staffers from the other departments.

The relationship between one complainant and Haumaha clearly deteriorated. Both gave differing accounts of arguments to the IPCA and at the time complained of each other to a Corrections manager.

Two instances of alleged bullying - one of snide remarks and another where he raised his hand to stop a the complainant from speaking - were found not to be substantiated and described as acceptable conduct.

But during a 'lengthy and loud' argument between the two, Haumaha aggressively asserted his authority and stood over the complainant with his leg on a chair.

'On any reasonable view of it, it was intimidating, whether it was designed to be or not.'

In a meeting almost a month later, he belittled and humiliated the other complainant who told the investigation: 'He basically berated me quite publicly … I was a little bit scared physically'.

He pressured each team member to provide their personal commitment to the project, which was reasonably interpreted as demanding commitment to his leadership, the IPCA found.

'Nor did he recognise, even by the time of his interview with the [IPCA], the inappropriateness of belittling a junior staff member in the meeting.'

The IPCA received a third complaint in August, and found Haumaha pressured officers to provide information that would help him defend allegations after taking advice from lawyers.

A Corrections manager also sent Haumaha a document critical of one of the complainants, which included confidential details about her performance and employment status.

'Haumaha should not have circulated personal information about a non-Police member of the project team, which he did to discredit them.'

In June, Haumaha's employment was thrown into question by victims' advocate Louise Nicholas, who brought forward his comments in support of accused rapists made to Operation Austin investigators in 2004.

A Government inquiry, headed by lawyer Mary Scholtens QC, found in November Nicholas' concerns had no 'verifiable basis' and the process that appointed him fit for purpose.

The allegations of bullying were traversed by Scholtens, who said they were irrelevant to Haumaha's appointment and 'at worst' offered to information about Haumaha's management style.

'Police can be expected to have substantial information and experience about how DC Haumaha interacts with woman over his 32 years in police.'

TIMELINE

July 1984 - Wally Haumaha joins Rotorua Police.

2004 - Operation Austin, inspecting the claims that Rotorua police officers had raped women, interviews Haumaha.

May 29, 2018 - Haumaha is appointed deputy commissioner, announced by a 'very pleased' police minister Stuart Nash.

May 31 - Victim advocate Louise Nicholas meets with police top brass.

June 29 - Reports emerge of Nicholas' dismay at the decision to promote Haumaha. Police provide an apology from Haumaha, and acting Prime Minister Winston Peters says an inquiry will be held.

August 1 - Dr Pauline Kingi, appointed chair of the inquiry, steps down after calls for her sacking for endorsing Haumaha 23 times on LinkedIn. Lawyer Mary Scholtens QC is later appointed.

September 6 - IPCA confirms it will investigate formal bullying complaints against Haumaha laid by two women, staffers from Ministry of Justice and Corrections, previously seconded to a police project led by Haumaha.

November 12 - Government inquiry clears appointment of Haumaha to deputy commissioner, finding claims he lacked integrity unsubstantiated and the process 'adequate and fit for purpose'.