Housing NZ head 'fully intends' to appear before committee

Helen Fulcher

The outgoing head of Housing New Zealand intends to appear before a parliamentary committee this week.

National Party housing spokesman Phil Heatley issued a statement saying that Helen Fulcher - whose resignation as chief executive was announced last week - should appear before a parliamentary inquiry, and both the minister and Housing New Zealand responded that she intended to do exactly that.

A spokesman for Housing Minister Chris Carter said Ms Fulcher fully intended to attend the social services select committee on Wednesday as part of her normal work.

A spokesman for Housing New Zealand emphasised that Ms Fulcher had always intended to appear before the MPs' panel and the details of the committee were publicly available.

Ms Fulcher is returning to her home state of South Australia to lead Housing South Australia, a new organisation, from July 1, after three years in the job here.

The 53-year-old was involved in reports of alleged financial mismanagement at Housing New Zealand this year but an inquiry cleared the organisation of any financial wrongdoing.

However, Auditor-General Kevin Brady told the corporation to fix its financial reporting processes.

Mr Heatley had said Ms Fulcher needed to appear before a select committee because she was the one with the knowledge and it would be costly if the committee had to bring her back from Australia.

- NZPA