Ardern misled on rape inquiry

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern has lashed Labour Party officials after the airing of sexual assault allegations involving a party staffer and a volunteer.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has lashed Labour Party officials after the airing of sexual assault allegations involving a party staffer and a volunteer.

Deputy Opposition Leader Paula Bennett alleged the staffer worked in Ms Ardern’s office.

On Monday, The Spinoff website published an allegation of digital rape by an unidentified male Labour staffer and a teenage party volunteer, which allegedly took place last year.

The volunteer, who is not identified, relays her trauma from the event and the Labour investigation — overseen by party president Nigel Haworth. That investigation found the staffer had no case to answer, and offered no line of appeal.

Ms Ardern said she had been assured by her party bureau­cracy that the allegations were not serious. “I am deeply concerned and incredibly frustrated by the process that has been undertaken by the Labour Party, but also obviously by the nature of the allegations,” she said.

“I was informed in the very beginning that the allegations made were not sexual in nature. It is obviously directly counter to what is now being reported.”

The victim’s allegations were reportedly tied in with another 11 complainants — involving bullying, intimidation and sexual harassment — and investigated internally by Labour as a group.

All complainants saw their matters dismissed by Mr ­Haworth in July. Last month, another complainant made their grievances public after going to Ms Bennett.

Ms Bennett called on the government to stand down the staffer, who she said “works in (Ms Ardern’s) office”. “The victim who has spoken up today is incredibly brave. She deserves to be respected,” she said.

“Five people have now come forward to me for help because they don’t feel they have been taken seriously. Two other women have similar stories of sexual assault and numerous others of intimidation and bullying all by the same perpetrator.”

Since being made aware of the criminal nature of the accusations, Ms Ardern said the ­Labour Party’s internal committee had been superseded by the appointment of a Queen’s Counsel to investigate.

She fell short of declaring no confidence in Mr Haworth.

“I absolutely believe that the president wants to do the right thing by those involved … but I have him completing reports now on the nature of the alleg­ations and the complaint process,” she said.

“It was a month ago that I expressed complete dissatisfaction with the way that was being ­handled by the Labour Party and I’m now going to await the findings of the QC’s report.”

No complaint has been made to police. The man in question has been barred from his regular place of employment, the parliamentary precinct, but has not been stood down.

Ms Ardern said she hoped the QC’s inquiry would be wrapped up within a month.

AAP