Maharey wants to give Rankin the slip at hearing

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

Social Services Minister Steve Maharey has shied away from appearing before a select committee with Christine Rankin for fear of being questioned about her $818,000 lawsuit.

Mr Maharey wrote to the chairman of the social services select committee, Taito Phillip Field, saying it was inappropriate for him to be at a public session with Ms Rankin at a time when she was taking legal action against the Crown.

Ms Rankin, the chief executive of Work and Income New Zealand, is suing State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham for damages and reinstatement after she failed to win another term in her three-year, $250,000-a-year job, which ends on July 5.

Ms Rankin claims to have been told by Mr Wintringham that she would not get a second term in the job "as the new Government would not let him."

But she believes she could continue to work well with Mr Maharey, the minister responsible for her department.

Mr Maharey's reluctance to appear publicly with Ms Rankin is in line with the Government's recent stance on the issue, which has been to refuse to answer parliamentary questions for fear of "touching on judicial matters" relating to the court case.

Mr Maharey's letter asked the committee to schedule a date for him to appear after Ms Rankin's job ends on July 5. But this could create timing difficulties, because the committee has to report back to Parliament by July 23. The lawsuit is due to be heard by the Employment Court in Wellington on June 25.

Mr Field said Mr Maharey's letter revealed a unique situation. "I'm not sure of any other chief executive taking a case through the court while these issues were being discussed in terms of the department and its budget," he said.

"But it is normal when something is before the courts that Parliament and committees be careful in terms of the information that is given which could have a bearing on court proceedings and that could be sub judice."

Having the applicant in a court case and the responsible minister sitting side by side at a select committee would be inappropriate.

Mr Field said Ms Rankin was due to appear before the committee tomorrow to discuss Winz's spending in the past year.