ORGANISED CRIME TARGETING PUBLIC SERVANTS

Organised crime is targeting those public servants who stand in the way of
their profits, State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham told MPs today.

Mr Wintringham told the government administration select committee this
week's case of a corrupt Customs officer showed how the environment had
changed.

Tori Rocky Kotahi Puata gave drug smugglers details of security secrets. He
has pleaded guilty to a charge of importing crystal methamphetamine and is
awaiting sentence.

"In the case of criminal activity the customs case in particular shows the
environment has changed," Mr Wintringham said.

"Now organised crime specifically targets some areas of the public service
where a financial advantage can be seen, or where the public servant stands
in the way of profits from criminal activity."

"I expect public service chief executives to understand the environment
that they are operating in, to understand the risks and take steps to
mitigate them," he said.

"That is an important part of the performance management environment in
which they operate."

While there have been several high profile recent cases of public servants
breaking the law, Mr Wintringham said he oversaw an "incorrupt" administration.

"The New Zealand public service has and continues to have a fine record of
honesty and integrity.

"I personally feel betrayed when public servants act corruptly or otherwise
betray the expectations that the Government and New Zealanders should have
of their behaviour."

In addition to criminal action, there were also cases when senior public
servants exercised poor judgement in areas such as hospitality expenditure,
or dealing with offers of corporate gifts.

Both types of case risked public confidence in the administration, he said.

He had reissued the code of conduct, with supporting material for enforcing.

That had attracted international interest from countries who saw New
Zealand as a model.

"We still have a record, rightly so, for having an incorrupt public service
with high standards of integrity," he said.

"There is international concern that that should be an important part of
any public administration."

Inquiries had taxed commission resources, he said. There had been about
seven in four years.

Te Puni Kokiri, the Civil Aviation Authority and Fisheries Ministry
administration of the scampi industry have come under the commission
spotlight this year.

Such inquiries required careful definition , an adherence to due process
and careful judgment in responding to public and political demands while
maintaining principles of natural justice, Mr Wintringham said.

"That is not the kind of situation or environment in which one puts
relatively junior or untried people, it requires very often the best and
most seasoned of our staff."

- - NZPA