Maori seating case put to rights tribunal

Josie Bullock is waiting to learn if she will lose her job for refusing to sit behind men at a Maori ceremony. Picture / Richard Robinson

A probation officer who sparked a row when she refused to sit behind men at a Maori ceremony has asked the Human Rights Review Tribunal to consider her case.

Josie Bullock should know in a few weeks whether she will lose her job at the Corrections Department.

She was suspended on full pay after persistently speaking to journalists about the incident.

Ms Bullock earlier this year was given an oral warning for refusing to sit behind men at a poroporoaki, or farewell, for a group of male offenders at a graduation ceremony last December.

She complained it was sexist, but the Corrections Department disciplined her for her insensitivity to Maori protocol and for embarrassing the department, after it received a complaint.

She was later suspended for persistently talking about the case and on Friday was asked by the Corrections Department to answer its belief that her behaviour constituted serious misconduct.

Ms Bullock told the Herald she believed speaking about the issue was in the public interest.

A preliminary finding on the case is expected in about a week, to which Ms Bullock will also be able to respond.

If her behaviour is considered to be serious misconduct, she could be sacked.

The Corrections Department said a decision on the case was not expected for several weeks.

Ms Bullock told the Herald yesterday that she had written to the Human Rights Review Tribunal asking it to hear her case, arguing the requirement that women sit behind men at Maori ceremonies is sexist and a breach of her human rights.

She has not heard if the tribunal will hear the complaint.