The David Parker Affair: Baddon Feels "Culpable" for Introducing John Hardie But Denies Attorney General Involved
The Wigram asks Baddon about evidence that Parker appointed his childhood friend to the role Christchurch's investigator. New evidence shows Attorney General breached Cabinet rules.
Public servant Lesley Baddon laments the day she introduced John Hardie to the role of Crown investigator for Christchurch.
Picture: Lesley Baddon/Linked-in profile
The Wigram has previously written that investigator John Hardie, and Minister for the Environment, David Parker, are boyhood friends from Otago Boys’ High School.
It has now uncovered emails that show Attorney General David Parker did appoint Hardie in breach of Cabinet rules.
In today’s article, Lesley Baddon responds to the new evidence.
Pictured: Minister for the Environment and Attorney General, David Parker
The public servant’s mistake came after the Christchurch City Council voted down the Government’s controversial housing rules in August 2022. Hardie’s appointment proved crucial in pressuring the Council to vote to notify PC14 in March this year.
Ministry disclosures show Hardie took a pay-cut to do the job.
Baddon feels “culpable” for bringing Hardie into the project and was willing to explain by phone how Hardie was appointed.
The former Director of Urban Infrastructure and Policy has been on leave from the role and is working as an advisor.
During our phone call, she dispelled that the Ministry for the Environment botched Hardie’s appointment. She denies Parker appointed his boyhood friend or had a hand in it.
Baddon Finds an Investigator
In August 2022, the outgoing council voted down PC14. No other Council in the country had taken this defiant stance.
Lesley Baddon set about finding an independent investigator who would see that council changed its mind. A local person was preferred.
On 7 October, Baddon took part in a Resource Management Efficiency Working Group in Auckland. She saw chair Hardie and was impressed by his grasp of resource management matters.
Haddon said the “gene pool” in New Zealand for experts in complicated resource management is small.
She spoke with Hardie but says she didn’t know Hardie knew Parker. It was a coincidence.
On 12 October, Baddon met with David Parker and another official. She says she put Hardie’s name forward for the job of investigator. Parker then declared his friendship.
Baddon says after that the Ministry sought Prime Minister Jacinda Adern’s permission to delegate the appointment to Minister Phil Twyford.
She says the matter was a “big deal” because her team was busy. A letter was sent to Adern. She was busy as well.
On 7 November, the power to appoint was delegated to Twyford. Haddon had no regrets about seeking the delegation. In her mind, it was the right thing to do.
Baddon says she found Hardie’s manner “harsh”. Ministry officials preferred another candidate but she says Twyford ignored their advice.
On 15 November, the Ministry for Environment says he appointed Hardie.
Baddon is adamant Parker was not involved in any way in his childhood friendship’s appointment and that her team’s work was “squeaky clean”.
A Different Story
But emails sent by Ministry to John Hardie and Dawn Baxendale, the Council Chief Executive, show Parker had already appointed his old friend.
McCarthy’s email comes to light
On 28 October, Baddon’s teammate Sarah McCarthy wrote to Hardie.
“Kia ora John
We haven’t met yet but I am the manager of the Urban – Implementation team at the Ministry for the Environment (Lesley Baddon who you have spoken with a couple of times is my boss). Fleur Rodway, CC-ed here is a Senior Analyst in my team, and we have been working on the advice on the Christchurch City Council investigation work.
Following the Minister’s decision to appoint you, we would really appreciate some time with you on Monday to discuss the contract that we will be putting together for you, and then following that next steps for project planning work.
Could you please let Fleur and I know if there is a time that suits to speak with you on Monday? If you have Teams or Zoom we would be keen to set up a time, otherwise we can call you? Both Fleur and I are Wellington based, but we do have some MfE staff in Christchurch who are likely to be supporting this work – along with us remotely. Look forward to meeting you, hope you have a great weekend
Ngā mihi
Sarah”
McCarthy wrote this email more than two weeks before the Twyford appointment.
When asked about McCarthy’s message, Baddon became defensive. She said McCarthy could be referring to Twyford.
A Double Declaration
On 31 October, Hardie completed a declaration. He omits to mention of the conflict of interest or his relationship with Parker.
According to Baddon, Parker had already declared his conflict of interest. So, the question is, why had Hardie not done the same.
On 1 November, Hardie inexplicably sends a second signed declaration. This time, he discloses his close association to Parker. He declares “None of these things are a conflict but I mention it in case others think differently”.
Terms of Reference
On 1 November, the next day, Lesley Baddon sends to Dawn Baxendale the revised Terms of Reference for the investigator role.
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