‘Utterly unacceptable’: Ex-Lotto presenter’s five years on full pay sparks review
The Ministry of Justice head has apologised to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and a review into the Government agency is underway amid a high-profile legal saga involving former Lotto presenter Russell Harrison.
Harrison spent five years suspended from his job at the Ministry of Justice on full pay despite facing criminal charges for money laundering.
Goldsmith said despite an apology from Justice Secretary Andrew Kibblewhite, his confidence in the ministry had been “seriously shaken” by the “utterly unacceptable” situation.
“I am seriously concerned about how this occurred. It was mishandled consistently for five years.”
The Rotorua-based celebrity is facing jail for money laundering after he admitted hauling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold bars to Turkey for the Comancheros motorcycle gang.
Goldsmith – who is also the Public Service Minister – said he only learned of the ordeal after his office asked about it.
He announced today he had directed the Public Service Commission to undertake a rapid review of the ministry, including overall operations and performance.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. Photo / Mark Mitchell
He had also instructed Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche to write to all chief executives setting out “strong guidance” for managing employment cases that involve criminal proceedings.
“We need to ensure there are processes firmly in place to stop this from happening again,” he said.
“Business owners across New Zealand work their way through difficult employment matters every day. New Zealanders expect the Public Service to show the same level of practical management.”
He said when an employee was on pay and not working, it was expected agencies managed the matter “actively”, made swift decisions and “keep the interests of taxpayers firmly in view”.
“Paying somebody for five years for not working cannot be justified.”
Another Government agency has also been caught up in Harrison’s legal situation.
Health New Zealand spent more than $490,000 on a single advertisement featuring the former Lotto presenter while he faced criminal charges.
According to documents obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union – and seen by the Herald – under the Official Information Act, Health NZ spent $490,043.75 on the 2023 Acts of Aroha immunisation advertisement featuring Harrison.
Harrison was engaged by an advertising agency on behalf of the government body. He was facing money laundering charges at the time but had name suppression.
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.
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