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Conversations about workplace bullying and harassment are often framed as employment or HR matters. In many cases, that is the right starting point. These issues commonly sit within internal complaints, people and culture, conduct, or health and safety processes. At the same time, recent discussion in New Zealand has highlighted the importance of not treating …
Continue reading "Workplace Bullying, Harassment, and Speaking Up"
New Zealand’s public sector is widely trusted for integrity and transparency, but that trust depends on whether organisations can maintain a culture where people feel safe to report wrongdoing, and confident that concerns will be handled properly. The Public Service Commissioner’s “Speaking Up” model standards set out the minimum expectations for how public sector organisations …
Continue reading "New Zealand’s “Speaking Up” model standards and why independence matters"
The Serious Fraud Office recently released a Long-Term Insights Briefing looking at how fraud and corruption are changing in New Zealand, what risks we face, and what needs to improve. It highlights the growing importance of whistleblowers and the need to strengthen how we support people who speak up. The article below summarises key points …
Continue reading "Whistleblowers: New Zealand’s First Line of Defence Against Fraud and Corruption"
Economic slowdowns place additional stress on organisations. Rising costs, tighter margins, and heightened pressure to meet performance targets can create conditions where fraud, corruption, and workplace misconduct are more likely to occur. Employees may rationalise misconduct as “temporary survival tactics,” while organisations face the risk of reduced oversight due to cost-cutting measures. In New Zealand, …
Continue reading "Strengthening Fraud Detection in Challenging Times"
When organisations talk about protected disclosures, the focus often sits on policies, training sessions and high-level governance statements. All of these matter, but one of the most practical and revealing parts of the Ombudsman’s “Protected disclosures – internal policies and procedures – July 2022” guidance is the section outlining best practice PDA policy and procedures, …
In New Zealand’s shifting regulatory landscape, the act of speaking up about serious wrongdoing inside organisations is becoming more visible. With the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 coming into force on 1 July 2022, leadership teams face growing pressure to ensure staff can report concerns safely. The Office of the Ombudsman’s guidance document …
Continue reading "WhistleBlowing: Why Every Organisation Needs More Than a Policy Sleeve"
On 13 March 2025, Transparency International NZ published the below article on the History and Purpose of the Protected Disclosures Act. https://www.transparency.org.nz/blog/beyond-fear-how-new-zealand-is-securing-safe-whistleblowing
In a recent decision, the Employment Court of New Zealand addressed the delicate balance between protecting whistleblowers and safeguarding business interests. The case involved a divisional manager at a council-controlled road maintenance and construction company, who was dismissed for serious misconduct after his employment advocate sent emails to the company's board and a council official …
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has unveiled a new guide to assist individuals in reporting serious misconduct in the workplace. The guide, aligned with the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022, clarifies the process of disclosing serious wrongdoing—commonly known as "whistleblowing"—and outlines the protections available to those who come forward. Under the Act, disclosures can …
The Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 significantly enhances protections for whistleblowers in New Zealand, particularly in the critical areas of health, safety, and bullying at the workplace. In this Act, serious wrongdoing includes any act, omission, or course of conduct in (or by) any organisation that is a serious risk to the health …
Whistleblowers 