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High-level bureaucrat investigation launched over allegations of data misuse by Te Pāti Māori

Manurewa Marae news

Acting Public Service Commissioner Heather Baggott has called a meeting with the heads of nine government departments to address allegations of data misuse by Te Pāti Māori.

The allegations made by former workers from Manurewa Marae claim Te Pāti Māori used private data from census forms to target voters during the last election. Several agencies, including Stats NZ, the Ministry of Health, and Oranga Tamariki, are conducting investigations, while the Privacy Commissioner and police are also involved. Te Pāti Māori’s president, John Tamihere, has denied the allegations and called them ‘frivolous’ and ‘baseless’, demanding evidence to be presented.

Baggott considers allegations to be serious as they challenge the integrity of public institutions and democratic processes. A report in state media claimed she stressed the importance of establishing facts and encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

Stats NZ has appointed independent investigator Doug Craig to lead the inquiry, focusing on the handling of census forms and the personal data contained within them. The meeting also included representatives from the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Justice, the Department of Internal Affairs, Te Puni Kōkiri, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, highlighting the widespread concerns over the scandal.

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