Female officer warned for refusing to sit at the back

An Auckland probation officer who refused to move to the back with other women at a Maori farewell ceremony says it's ridiculous she has now received an oral warning from the Department of Corrections.

The incident first came to light in January when it was reported Josie Bullock had refused to move to the back during a Corrections function.

Visitors were about to be welcomed to a probation centre for a poroporoaki (farewell) for a group of male offenders who had just finished a violence prevention programme.

Ms Bullock took a front row seat and refused to move to the back when asked by a man to do so.

The Onehunga probation officer has now received an oral warning for her actions.

"I'm not happy at all because I think it's ridiculous," she told National Radio.

"I'm standing up for my rights -- if male probation officers can sit at the front why shouldn't I?"

In January, Act MP Muriel Newman said any disciplinary action would be political correctness out of control.

- NZPA