Public sector cuts: Oranga Tamariki boss Chappie Te Kani must have missed memo on handling leaks and staff morale – editorial

Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani (right) with former Police Commissioner Mike Bush.

EDITORIAL

Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani – one of the highest-ranking Māori public servants – must have missed the training in how to deal with staff leaks and morale after he “lectured” his employees about leaking information, then confirmed hundreds more job redundancies at the organisation.

During his Oranga Tamariki team meeting, Te Kani said he was infuriated by the leaks of the pending restructure – forced on all departments by the coalition Government – and spent most of the all-staff hui letting his people know his views about staff indiscretions.

Then Te Kani confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets: that Oranga Tamariki has to shed hundreds of roles – 419 to be precise – from backroom support positions.

Not long after Te Kani’s state-of-the-Oranga Tamariki speech, some of his staff were right back leaking to media, complaining that Te Kani’s tone and his timing were out of sync.

“He lectured us like a disappointed school principal,” a staffer said.

Staff also didn’t think Te Kani had properly acknowledged the hundreds of staff losing their jobs, the source said.

But Te Kani doubled down, telling media he made no apologies for how things had been handled.

He claimed public discussion – media leaks – of the Oranga Tamariki restructure had damaged the organisation and vowed to punish the leakers.

Luckily, water torture is not an option.

“There can be no confusion about what is and is not acceptable behaviour,” Te Kani said.

“There will be consequences for poor performance and bad behaviour. I do not apologise for this.”

Oranga Tamariki plans to cut 419 jobs. Photo / RNZ, Angus Dreaver

“I have no tolerance for such behaviour. Some have suggested that the act of leaking is an employee’s ‘democratic right’. It is not.”

What Te Kani forgets is the countless reviews over a number of years that have blasted Oranga Tamariki.

There’s a cliched Government saying: ‘No clue, let’s review’ – and that has happened on multiple occasions to Oranga Tamariki.

Yet it remains the same.

Even Māori wanted the organisation’s name restored to a Pākehā-named entity because all it did was bring shame to te reo Māori.

Slagging employees for speaking to media about job retention, the culture of the organisation and criticising its hierarchy does not show good leadership.

Good leaders lead from the front and set examples for employees to follow.

Great leaders inspire rather than direct, they motivate not command.

They must be agile yet still flex their influence while communicating a vision, showing gratitude, and collaborating effectively – not throwing their toys out of the cot over staff leaks.