Roche must front up over Blakeley ‘resignation'

The Taxpayers’ Union is demanding Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche front up over Nic Blakeley’s rejected resignation, after widespread speculation that Nic Blakeley offered his resignation knowing that it would not be accepted.

The Union has today written to Sir Brian seeking the communications and timeline surrounding Mr Blakeley’s offer to resign and Sir Brian’s decision not to accept it.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“We have reason to believe that, before Nic Blakeley tendered his resignation, it was communicated to him that it would not be accepted.

“We are calling on Sir Brian to clarify the situation and put the matter to bed.

“If Blakeley knew his resignation was going to be rejected before he offered it, then the whole thing was theatre. It would mean New Zealanders were presented with a carefully choreographed show of accountability when the outcome had already been stitched up.

“That would be nothing short of a ruse on taxpayers and the public.

“But there is a bigger question here too. How can New Zealanders have confidence in Sir Brian Roche to stand up for honesty and integrity across the public service when, faced with a chief executive who was party to Parliament being deliberately misled, he lets him off?

“If everything was above board, there should be no difficulty for Sir Brian fronting up and telling New Zealanders exactly what happened."

The letter sent to the Commissioner is available at www.taxpayers.org.nz/ltr_ssc_blakeley_deal