Rankin felt deserted, says husband

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

Christine Rankin dabbed at tears as her husband described the fear and desperation she felt when it became clear that her job as the country's welfare and employment boss was over.

Allan Hogg concluded the evidence for his wife's $818,000 lawsuit against her employer, State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham, at the Employment Court in Wellington yesterday.

The Crown will put Mr Wintringham in the witness box today, when it begins its case.

"This is not about money for Christine, this is about her job," Mr Hogg told Judge Tom Goddard.

"Christine simply wants the job that she was appointed to, the job she believes and I believe and hopefully a growing number of people believe she has done very well and to expectation."

Mr Hogg, a manager at the insurance and investment company Axa, spoke of the impact on Mrs Rankin and their family when they realised that she would lose her job.

"I could sort of unbundle it into two things. I think one would be fear and one would be desperation."

"She would say to me 'I have done everything the new minister has wanted and more, and it won't go away'."

Mrs Rankin appeared uncomfortable as she listened to her husband, dabbing at her eyes and shifting in her seat as her friend Liz Jones patted her back reassuringly.

During her own evidence, Mrs Rankin had occasionally become tearful, but mostly presented a strong, self-assured image, with flashes of defiance and controlled anger.

Mr Hogg said Mrs Rankin felt deserted by Mr Wintringham.

"There was no Michael Wintringham, her employer the State Services Commissioner, there for her. She stood alone."

He felt that his wife was being "hung out to dry."

Mr Hogg, who spent 30 years working in social welfare, income support and customs departments, also spoke of the community's vilification of Mrs Rankin.

"Our lives have been totally exposed and invaded ... Going to the supermarket meant that Christine would be abused verbally, restaurants meant that people stared and gazed at her," said Mr Hogg.

"Christine told me of a time when she was spat at. I have been with her when people referred to her as an 'effing bitch', and yelled at her from trucks and cars."

Mr Hogg said his wife was passionate about her job and committed to it.

"In fact, it's all-consuming, but that is the nature of Christine."

Work and Income NZ operations manager Catherine Cooper gave evidence yesterday about a ministerial team, which became known as the "hanging committee," responsible for an inquiry into the organisation.

She told the court that the terms of reference for the review were initially drafted by State Services Minister Trevor Mallard, but were changed.

According to Ms Cooper, former State Services Commissioner Don Hunn, who headed the inquiry, said the terms of reference in Mr Mallard's version were highly inappropriate because they focused too much on the chief executive.

Mr Hunn had also stated that the first draft of the report was insufficient to have any basis for removing Christine Rankin as chief executive.

Crown counsel Alan Galbraith, QC, suggested to Ms Cooper that the reason for changes to the report was that it strayed into areas that could be legally challenged.

"Crown Law was saying you can't go beyond the terms of reference because there was a risk of the report being challenged?"

"I don't remember that as the major vein of the argument from the department ... " she replied.