21 May 2007 Release:

New citizens' watchdog on the prowl for points of friction

A new watchdog group in the tradition of the PublicEye group that pushed for New Zealand's Official Information Act in the 1980s is being formed in Wellington.

Working under the name Pugnacious, the anonymous group plans to provide a free-ranging 'alternative press' for covering issues such as points of friction in the public service as identified on the State Services Commission website, including:

* scrutiny of the performance of chief executives

* the code against withholding of relevant information from Ministers

* increasing the exposure of public servants to criticism

* revealing misuse of authority in 'directing' the actions of chief executives and staff

* impediments in the flow of 'free and frank' (honest, impartial, comprehensive) advice

Pugnacious advocates the rights of bureaucrats to free speech and a higher degree of independence and believes the public service in New Zealand is dying under the deadweight of attitudes that 'outlaw' constructive personal actions by public servants.

As well as digging out examples of 'bureau-crap' in the bureaucracy, Pugnacious will release press alerts from sources not generally picked up by daily journalists, as well as undertaking investigative journalism to be published as occasional weblogs.

The first Pugnacious investigation is lodging Official Information requests to public sector agencies to see who most actively promotes internal procedures under the Public Disclosures Act 2000 for employees who have become aware of actual or possible serious wrong-doing and who wish to disclose that information. Pugnacious welcomes emails from public servants.

Email contact: pugnacity2[at]gmail.com
Recommended site for citizen watchdogs: www.theyworkforyou.co.nz

ENDS

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