Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has disputed allegations from MP Dr Gaurav Sharma, saying she has not seen any bullying.
In an opinion column published in the NZ Herald on Thursday, Sharma alleged widespread bullying at Parliament, including by his own party whips, the prime minister’s office and others, although no evidence was provided to support the claims.
Speaking to media on Friday afternoon, Ardern said Labour and the Parliamentary Service had been working constructively with Sharma to coach and mentor him as a new MP, who is responsible for staff.
Starting out as a new MP “can be challenging” and “managing staff can be hard”, she said.
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Ardern said Parliament – like any other workplace – must be free from bullying, and that expectation applied to everyone, including MPs.
Since the Francis Review into the workplace culture at Parliament, processes for dealing with employment issues had been improved. Those approved processes were followed in this case, she said.
“While we dispute the allegations he has made, Gaurav is a valued member of the team, and we want to make sure he is getting the support he needs.”
ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff
Dr Gaurav Sharma during question time in the House of Representatives. (file photo)
Ardern said Sharma’s wellbeing was her primary concern.
She refused to speak about the nature of the allegations, citing privacy and ongoing employment issues, but said she was comfortable with how the situation had been handled.
Ardern said there were no widespread issues of bullying within the Labour caucus.
Chris McKeen/Stuff
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Labour has offered support and help to MP Gaurav Sharma following his allegations.
Earlier on Friday, Labour said it had “at all times acted in good faith and sought to work constructively” with Sharma.
In a statement, Labour Chief Whip Duncan Webb said his office became aware of issues between Sharma and some of his staff a year ago.
The Parliamentary Service recently paused hiring staff for Sharma’s office, with the intention of providing further assistance before more staff were hired, Webb said, adding that “this seemed prudent”.
“At all times the whip’s office has acted in good faith and sought to work constructively with Gaurav and the Parliamentary Service to ensure he has good support available to address issues between him and his staff.”
Stuff
Labour MP Gaurav Sharma with former National MP Tim Macindoe, who lost the Hamilton West electorate to Sharma at the 2020 election, at which Labour won an overwhelming majority.
The Parliamentary Service and Webb met with Sharma on Thursday. Webb said the MP was fully represented at that meeting.
“We are mindful these are ongoing relationships, so we must respect individual’s privacy, but we will continue to seek a resolution with Gaurav in the coming weeks.”
On Thursday, Parliamentary Service confirmed it had been working through “employment matters” with the Hamilton West MP for over a year.
Tom Lee/Stuff
Management at Avalon Medical, Gaurav Sharma’s former workplace, were unavailable to speak to Stuff on Friday.
Gaurav Sharma goes to ground
Sharma has not responded to requests for comment.
His office in Hamilton was closed on Friday morning. Likewise, nobody was answering the door at his apartment – however the lights were on inside and his sign-written car was parked in its designated car park outside.
Sharma is due to host a constituency clinic at the Anglesea Pharmacy in Hamilton from 7pm on Friday night.
Meanwhile, local and former MPs who had worked closely with Sharma also refused to comment on the allegations.
One of Sharma’s predecessors in the Hamilton West electorate, former Labour MP Sue Moroney, said she was “going to sit this one out” and declined to comment further.
Dan Steer, a candidate for the Hamilton City Council in the local body elections who works in Labour’s Hamilton East office, also declined to comment when approached.
Sharma’s electorate neighbours Jamie Strange, who holds Hamilton East, and Hauraki-Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta did not respond to inquiries.
And managers at Avalon Medical – Sharma’s workplace before he became an MP – were unavailable to speak to Stuff on Friday afternoon.
MARK TAYLOR/Stuff
Gaurav Sharma’s electorate office in Pebroke St, Hamilton was shut up when Stuff visited on Friday.
Labour MPs responded with surprise
Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio said he knew Sharma but was not aware of the allegations until now.
“I’m sad that we were there, and we didn’t understand that that’s what his experience was, and I wish that he had reached out. But nonetheless, we’re hoping that support is given to him by the Parliamentary Services and obviously by whips. And I haven’t had a chance to talk to him, so we’ll get a chance to reach out and see how he’s doing.”
Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti said she had not experienced bullying herself, since becoming an MP in 2017.
“I’ve been through a big journey during this time … I have felt really wrapped around and supported. I really feel for anyone that’s in that situation and feels like they’re in that situation. But that’s not my experience.
“I was very surprised at that. My heart also goes out to him and I hope that he’s getting the support that he needs.”
New MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene said she was also surprised to hear Sharma’s concerns about bullying and that in the three months she’s been in Parliament she has felt well-supported.
Bullying has been front and centre of conversation in Parliament this week, after Stuff revealed on Monday that new National MP Sam Uffindell had left the elite boarding school King’s College as a young man after he assaulted a younger student.
Uffindell has since been suspended from National’s caucus, as an investigation is carried out into other allegations of misbehaviour as a university student.
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Jacinda Ardern disputes MP’s bullying claims, Labour says it ‘acted in good faith’ towards Dr Gaurav Sharma & Latest News Update
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