'I still love you bro': Acting great stands by ex-Lotto presenter mate after convictions

Actor Temuera Morrison is standing by his former Lotto presenter friend despite his crimes, while experts say taxpayer money spent on five years of gardening leave is “very unlikely” to be recovered.

Russell Harrison was arrested five years ago in an FBI sting after delivering gold bullion to a Comancheros gang boss in Turkey.

The Ministry of Justice, for which Harrison worked as a kaiārahi, or Family Court navigator, confirmed that he received a full Government salary, likely amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars, until he pleaded guilty to money laundering two weeks ago and was fired.

Ministry acting chief operating officer Andrea King told the Herald that Harrison started the role in Rotorua in June 2021, and was arrested and charged that month. Once the ministry became aware, he was immediately suspended, pending the outcome of his court case.

King said the ministry was “shocked and disappointed at Harrison’s serious criminal offending”.

New Zealand actor Temuera Morrison. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Renowned Kiwi actor Morrison told the Rotorua Daily Post he was “taken by surprise” by longtime friend Harrison’s admission of his role in a money laundering scheme.

“I’m actually trying to contact him just to send him a bit of love and just say, ‘Bro, I still love you, bro’.

“Some people make mistakes in life, and I’m not holding anything he’s done recently against him, and he’s still a very dear friend of mine.”

Morrison, who played Jake “The Muss” Heke in Once Were Warriors, said he had known Harrison for many years through his work with other members of the Morrison family and described him as “a beautiful father, beautiful man, big heart”.

“He has some beautiful children, and those are the ones I feel a little bit sorry about when people make mistakes.”

Morrison said he did not know the circumstances that led to Harrison’s involvement in the scheme, and said the offending seemed out of character.

“He’s still a beautiful man, and I still support him dearly. I’m not going to let some of his bad decisions tarnish that.”

Can Government get the money back?

An expert said the taxpayer-funded cost of Harrison’s five years of paid leave was “very unlikely” to be recovered.

Employment law specialist Simon Schofield, who teaches at the University of Auckland, told the Herald the likelihood of Harrison’s former employer recovering any money was low.

“The only costs that they could potentially try to claim back were associated with their employment investigation.”

He said this would not be worth recovering.

“If there were any costs associated with the employment process, then an employer would probably let those lie.”

Schofield said the situation was “unusual”, and it seemed like an “awfully long time” to be paid, given the information that the employer would have had.

“As an employee, there should have been a provision in his employment agreement which allows for unpaid suspension.”

Schofield suspected Harrison’s employment agreement did not have such a clause, and that was why he continued to be paid.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Herald NOW’s Ryan Bridge Today that he was “shocked” about the payments and had learned of the matter only in the past couple of weeks.

Asked if the salary could be paid back, Goldsmith said that was “an employment relations matter”.

The Ministry of Justice refused to comment when asked about the total wages Harrison was paid or whether there was a plan to get the money back.

Russell Harrison worked for the Justice Ministry as a kaiārahi, or Family Court navigator, and continued to be paid for that role while suspended. Photo / NZME

‘Money laundering on the taxpayer’

The Taxpayers’ Union staged a protest outside the Ministry of Justice in Wellington with a lotto wheel, encouraging staff to spin it to win five years of pay.

Union director Jordan Williams told the Herald it was “totally unacceptable” that the minister was not informed until just two weeks ago.

Williams said it was clear the ex-public servant was a “bad bugger” and a “crook” and should have been marched out the door before he pleaded guilty.

The Taxpayers' Union's protest outside the Ministry of Justice in Wellington. Photo / Ethan Manera

“We want to know how many other people are on garden leave, how many other people are getting paid not to work by the taxpayer?

“It’s money laundering on the taxpayer. Leaders need to front up,” Williams said.

Harrison’s arrest was part of the international Operation Trojan Shield, dubbed the “sting of the century”.

It culminated in co-ordinated raids across 16 countries, including New Zealand, resulting in more than 800 arrests, tonnes of drugs seized, and millions in cash uncovered.

‘Utterly unbelievable and also unacceptable’

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has also demanded answers on the case, calling it “utterly unbelievable and also unacceptable”.

Speaking in Napier this afternoon, Luxon said he had read the report. He knew the Justice Minister was frustrated by the revelations and had asked for a full please explain from the Ministry of Justice.

“We need to let that process run through but it was quite unbelievable to hear that this morning,” Luxon said.

Luxon said it was down to Goldsmith to “get a decent answer from the Ministry of Justice as to how the hell this could happen” when asked if Harrison should be forced to pay back his salary.

“We’ll let him run through that process,” Luxon said.