No Longer a Secret: Former City Mayors' Vicky Buck and Garry Moore's roles in the 1995 Creche Legal Case

The New Zealand Reporter for 29 November 2024. The NZR is a NZ Media Council digital member. This article focuses on Moore's involvement in a crucial 1995 council vote and his response to questions.

“I’m not trying to hide anything,” said Garry Moore over a telephone conversation.

A few minutes earlier, The NZR had sent an email and text message to Moore regarding his February 2023 denial of having any involvement in the Peter Ellis/Civic Creche saga.

Council minutes released on Wednesday showed Moore’s statement to be untrue, with the minutes showing he and fellow former city mayor Vicky Buck had voted in favour of appealing a 1995 Employment Court verdict that went against the council. The vote came during a meeting closed to the public.

Moore has previously been quoted as “accusing council executives of “secrecy” and "working to an agenda" to offload local assets” (Radio NZ, October 2023).

The resulting 1995 appeal was successful and meant the sacked workers lost their bid for unjustified dismissal and legal costs or any other means to salvage their reputations.

The 1992 closure of the Civic Creche, a council-run facility, came on the back of a sexual abuse Police probe that resulted in the conviction of Peter Ellis and staff members being embroiled in and tarnished by the saga.

One former staff member related that it destroyed her and her husband’s life and meant she could no longer work with children, which had been one of the joys of her life.

“I didn’t remember,” said Moore of the 16-6 vote in favour of an appeal, before accusing The NZR of “mud-raking” and having made its mind up on the matter.

The cause of the council’s 1992 decision to close the Creche is still an open to conjecture.

Since 1992, Police eventually dropped cases made against 4 former creche workers and the Supreme Court has quashed all of Ellis’ remaining convictions and determined the case against him to be a miscarriage of justice.

Notwithstanding, the former creche workers have never received an apology for the sackings or compensation or legal costs from The Christchurch City Council.

At the outset of this investigation in February 2023, The NZR wrote to Mayor Phil Mauger. The council’s response will be covered in a subsequent article.

The NZR also wrote to Garry Moore.

“Hi Garry,

I’m looking into the creche case and the impact the council and police's conduct had on one of the creche workers and her husband.

I’m seeking comment from former mayors on whether council ought to apologise to the former creche workers and what form of redress that council ought to provide to them now that Ellis' has been cleared.

Currently mayor Vicki Buck has distanced herself from the council handling.

I’m prepared to meet with you off the record.”

About 5 days later, Moore responded.