Subject: Commission completes deliveration Date sent: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 15:34:24 +1200 From: "Lana Simmons-Donaldson" To:

12 August 2004

Commission completes deliberation

At its meeting today the Maori Language Commission Board completed its deliberations over the select committee submission made by its Chief Executive Haami Piripi.

The Board reiterated that it does not consider Mr Piripi had breached any law or existing Government policy and that Mr Piripi had a right to make a submission to the select committee as a private citizen of this country.

However, as correctly pointed out by the Minister of Maori Affairs the net effect has been an undermining of confidence in the neutrality of the Commission by Government and by opposition parties. For this reason Mr Piripi has been censured by the Board and requested to desist from making further public submissions. Mr Piripi has agreed to this.

In terms of establishing ethical standards for the Commission, Commissioners have decided to work with the State Services Commission and Te Puni Kokiri in the coming months to establish state sector standards that will extend to all employees of Autonomous Crown Entities like the Commission.

In the interim the Commission has agreed to adopt the following policies to ensure all employees:

· Perform their duties honestly and impartially · Avoid situations which might compromise their integrity or otherwise lead to conflicts of interest · Observe the principles of fairness and impartiality in all official dealings · Avoid any interest or situation that could directly or indirectly compromise the performance of their duties, or the standing of the Commission in relationships with key stakeholders.

ENDS

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