Stuff reports:
Child Youth and Family staff at a regional office have been told they are Social Development Minister Paula Bennett’s servants who should not trouble their master with concerns about their work.
In an email dated August 13 … Kaitaia CYF staff were told to show respect to the minister when she visited the next day.
“It is not appropriate for staff to pour their hearts and souls out to the minister,” a manager wrote.
“This is a formal visit and she is not your `friend’. It’s a bit like the relationship between a servant and a master, i.e. the servant knows their place. She should not be presented with the woes of the office, or lack of resources, or anything like that.”
So, CYF staff, you have to learn to know your place. Paula is your mistress, and if you forget that, you will be severely disciplined.
Um, isn’t the public service meant to be apolitical?
Peter Hughes is the chief executive of the Ministry of Social Development (which includes CYF). He may want to consider severerly disciplining the “servant” who gave such a politically biased and antidemocratic instruction. It is the democratic right of all New Zealanders to have a free and frank input to Government Ministers, regardless of whether they are public servants.
