Crown appeals over Rankin

The Crown has launched an 11th-hour appeal against the Employment Court decision to hear dumped welfare boss Christine Rankin's damages case.

But it is too late to stop the case going ahead next week.

The appeal comes almost three weeks after Ms Rankin won the right to have her $818,000 damages case heard in the Employment Court. The Crown opposed this on the grounds that, as statutory appointees, state bosses were not covered by the Employment Relations Act.

Chief Employment Court Judge Tom Goddard ruled that his court did have jurisdiction and that Ms Rankin was entitled to test her claim that the decision not to reappoint her was made because of her appearance and not her ability to run a department.

She is suing State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham over his alleged failure to treat her fairly and act independently when he decided not to renew her appointment as chief executive of the Department of Work and Income.

Her case will test the new Employment Relations Act and may set a precedent for state bosses to sue ministers.

- NZPA