Ex-cop's real estate appointment sound - review

Former police superintendent Jon Moss disclosed "all relevant information" about his departure from the police following an affair with a junior colleague - including being the subject of a criminal investigation - before being appointed as a Real Estate Agents Authority (REAA) standards enforcement officer, an independent review has found.

Mr Moss, the former police national manager of professional standards, quit the force when an internal inquiry started into allegations that he had a long-running affair with a junior constable, Katie Scott.

Last year, allegations were made that Mr Moss asked Ms Scott to lie to a police investigation into a use-of-force matter, but a senior criminal investigator determined there was no case to answer.

A new criminal inquiry into the allegations was launched earlier this month.

Following his resignation, Mr Moss began working for the REAA in March and the following month was appointed its senior enforcement manager.

After the allegations were made public last week, the REAA asked Wellington lawyer John Edwards to review Mr Moss' appointment.

The review, made public today, found Mr Moss fully disclosed all relevant information about his departure from the police and the ongoing inquiries.

"Mr Moss was at all times anxious to avoid any embarrassment to the authority," the review said.

But no formal referee checks or qualification verification took place when he was appointed to the REAA, with informal checks, such as asking contacts about Mr Moss' work ethic, used instead.

Because of this, his appointment had departed from "best practice", but it was unlikely that the outcome would have changed if those processes had been followed, the review said.

Mr Moss was the most highly qualified candidate for the job and there was no unfairness to any other candidates.

The review recommended that in future appointments, the REAA should adapt the State Services Commission's policy to adopt as its own recruitment policy.

The REAA board welcomed the results of the review and supported the recruitment policy recommendation, board chairwoman Kristy McDonald QC said.

The REAA would make no further comment on the matter.

Associate Justice Minister Nathan Guy also welcomed the report, but said he was concerned the situation was allowed to arise.

He said the REAA had assured him its employment procedures were being reviewed and improved.

The allegations about Mr Moss came to light on July 1, a day after the REAA's chief executive, Janet Mazenier, resigned.

Her resignation came amid suggestions of a legal budget blowout as the authority faced hundreds of complaints. The REAA said today many of those complaints have now been heard.

The same day, Police Commissioner Howard Broad announced a new criminal investigation into the allegations that Mr Moss improperly influenced another officer.

- NZPA