Slain man's dad fumes as Matthews stays

Paul Kuchenbecker's son Karl (inset) was murdered by Graeme Burton in 2007. File photo / Wairarapa Times Age

The father of Karl Kuchenbecker says Corrections Minister Judith Collins is "all bark and no bite", after she failed to remove Barry Matthews.

Paul Kuchenbecker said Mr Matthews now appeared to be "untouchable" as the department's chief executive, despite presiding over a string of failures such as parolee Graeme Burton being left free to murder his son.

Mr Kuchenbecker said he had expected more from Ms Collins, who pointedly refused to express confidence in Mr Matthews after Corrections received a damning report from the Auditor-General two weeks ago.

But Ms Collins backed away yesterday after the follow-up report she ordered from the State Services Commissioner cleared Mr Matthews of blame for the deficiencies found by the Auditor-General.

"Judith Collins came out barking, but she's got no bite," Mr Kuchenbecker told the Herald.

He said just as Mr Matthews should not be able to use the State Services Commissioner's report as a "barrier", neither should Ms Collins be able to use it as an "excuse".

"If you need a highly paid secure job without accountability for running your department badly, join Corrections."

Mr Matthews has two years to run on his $375,000-a-year contract.

Ms Collins ordered commissioner Iain Rennie to find out "who is accountable" for the failings in the Auditor-General's report, which found that even after Mr Kuchenbecker's murder the department was still not making basic checks in nearly every one of the 100 cases it examined.

Mr Rennie found Mr Matthews was accountable, but that dismissal "would not be justified" because of the improvements he was making.

Ms Collins also asked Mr Rennie how public confidence in Corrections could be restored.

Mr Rennie recommended setting up an expert panel chaired by an independent person to monitor the department's handling of parole.

Ms Collins is handicapped by the commissioner being Mr Matthews' legal employer.

She cannot direct Mr Rennie to act but her refusal to express confidence was interpreted as a signal that she wanted Mr Matthews out.

She said yesterday that she "must" accept Mr Rennie's findings and gave limited support to Mr Matthews.

But she agreed that if she declared she could not work with Mr Matthews, then Mr Rennie would have to act.

Ms Collins said going that far was not her intention. "Mr Matthews and I are committed to working together."

The minister said she "hoped" Mr Rennie's recommendations worked.

She was backed by Prime Minister John Key, who said: "We can't put words in the mouth of the State Services Commissioner."

Labour leader Phil Goff said Ms Collins' efforts to "undermine" Mr Matthews had failed.

"He has acted appropriately, she has prejudged his case, she is the one with egg on her face."

Mr Rennie's report found "substantial evidence of improvement" in Corrections' handling of parole and a "consistent and energetic focus" on improving even further by Mr Matthews and his managers.

Mr Rennie said the public did not appear to understand that "lessons had been learned".

Mr Rennie noted that Mr Matthews had failed last year to get the Government to fund 61 extra staff to monitor parole.

Ms Collins said she had asked for extra funding in this year's Budget and the Government would be responsible when considering it.