Mauger Refuses to Review Creche Case Sackings
6 Dec 24. The New Zealand Reporter investigates the Council Creche case sackings.
For a second time, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has refused to review the Peter Ellis-linked Creche case sackings of 1992.
In the editor’s opinion, the decision to close the creche may have created a false impression that some workers had committed child sexual abuse. It is conceivable that the council’s decision to appeal the employment court decision confirmed to the public the decision was the right one. In light of Ellis’ exoneration and police dropping all charges against 4 of the workers, the council ought to review the council’s handling of the closure and determine whether it ought to remedy the situation.
Peter, The NZR Editor
His response came, despite an exhaustive legal process that saw the Supreme Court’s decision quash all of Ellis’ remaining sex abuse convictions and it determining the case made against him was a miscarriage of justice.
The 1992 Creche Closure and 1995 Decision to Appeal
Ellis had worked at a council-run creche in Christchurch. He and 5 other creche workers were wrongly pinpointed as perpetrators of child sex abuse.
Amidst a surge of child abuse claims, the council suddenly closed the creche in 1992, after Police had widened their investigation to include other workers. The Police also raided the homes of 5 of the workers.
Peter Ellis and "Sigrid", The Fifth Woman Crèche Worker
In 1991 the Peter Ellis/Civic Crèche case swept through Christchurch and with it took Ellis and 4 female Crèche workers with allegations of child sexual abuse and satanic ritual abuse. It culminated in Ellis’s wrongful convictions, which were later quashed. It also led to the baseless arrest and detention of his former colleagues from the defunct Civic Crèche, and charges that were later dropped.
The sacked workers won their employment case against the council in 1995. In May, the council voted in secret to continue with an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Then mayor Vicki Buck and future mayor Garry Moore voted for the appeal. Buck had previously said she had “never” believed any of them-Ellis and the accused women-were guilty. Moore denied having any involvement in the case, before stating he had forgotten about the appeal.
An Appeal to Mayor Phil Mauger
In March 2023, The Wigram wrote to Mauger. At the conclusion of the email message, Mauger was asked -
“Given what has transpired in recent times, and at this early stage, I would like to ask whether council has any plans to apologise to, or compensate the workers. Former Mayors Vicki Buck (mayor at the time) and Garry Moore have already commented. I would appreciate hearing from you and am happy to meet you.”
On 21 March, Jocelyn Ritchie, media advisor, responded.
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