Chief Ombudsman urges RNZ to release full transcript of Kiri Allan ...

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Kiri Allan was a member of the Labour Party, entering the House as a list MP in 2017, and going on to win the East Coast electorate in 2020.

The Chief Ombudsman says Radio New Zealand should release a full transcript of the speech former high-profile Labour minister Kiri Allan made at her then-partner Māni Dunlop’s farewell event.

An investigation under the Official Information Act (OIA) was launched after Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier​ received three separate complaints about RNZ’s decision to refuse requests for audio recordings or transcripts of the speech Allan gave in March.

During the speech which Allan later apologised for, Allan criticised RNZ’s culture and treatment of Māori staff and urged the public broadcaster to have a look at its culture.

Allan prefaced her comments by saying the speech was off the record and delivered in her capacity as Dunlop’s partner, not as a minister.

RNZ refused the requests for the full speech on the basis that it was necessary to protect Allan’s privacy, the privacy of other individuals and to protect “the tikanga of RNZ and its kaimahi”.

However, it released parts of a transcript of the speech for public interest reasons.

The state broadcaster also suggested it was entitled to withhold the information on the basis that Allan’s comments were made in confidence, and the release of the speech would prejudice future arrangements for farewell events.

"Based on the context in which the speech was given, as well as the personal nature of its content, I would generally be of the view that the speech should be withheld to protect the privacy of Ms Allan and Ms Dunlop," Boshier said.

"However, both advised me they had no objections to a full transcript being released. Therefore, with the exception of the names of third parties referred to in the speech, RNZ was not entitled to withhold a transcript given Ms Allan and Ms Dunlop supported the release.

“I am of the view, however, that RNZ was entitled to refuse the request for an audio recording of the speech. An audio recording reveals more than a transcript, such as the tone of the speaker, and neither Ms Allan nor Ms Dunlop have consented to release of the audio."

In forming his opinion, Boshier considered RNZ’s internal practices, described as "tikanga protocols" in the context of the relevant withholding grounds in the OIA.

He has recommended that RNZ prepares and releases a full transcript of the speech to the complainants, while withholding the names of the third parties Allan referred to, within 21 working days.