Prime Minister investigated over ponytailgate correspondence
The Ombudsman is investigating refusal to release any ponytailgate messages.
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The Ombudsman is investigating Prime Minister John Key for refusing to release any ‘Ponytailgate’ correspondence he might have had with gossip columnist Rachel Glucina.
Chief Ombudsman Dame Beverley Wakem is probing the Prime Minister’s Office decision not to release any conversations or messages Mr Key or his office may have had with Ms Glucina, the owners of Auckland’s Café Rosie or its employees.
The messages relate to a series of incidents, popularly known as “Ponytailgate”, where the prime minister was accused of repeatedly pulling the hair of a waitress at an Auckland café. Mr Key maintained his actions were meant to be light-hearted.
Paul McMahon, chairman of the Spreydon-Heathcote Community Board, requested the information under the Official Information Act. He complained to the Ombudsman in late May after the Prime Minister’s Office turned his request down.
He received a letter confirming the investigation on Monday (see Raw Data below).
In July, the Press Council upheld several complaints against the New Zealand Herald over an article written by Ms Glucina, then a Herald columnist.
The Press Council found “there were elements of subterfuge” in the Herald’s dealings with the principal interviewee and subject of the article, waitress Amanda Bailey, as well as “a failure to act fairly towards her.”
Mr Key has said in Parliament he had no contact with Ms Glucina’s PR company but would not answer questions about personal correspondence with the columnist.
The prime minister has been notified of the investigation.
RAW DATA: Ombudsman’s letter (attached here)
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Calida Smylie
Wed, 19 Aug 2015
Wed, 19 Aug 2015
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Prime Minister investigated over ponytailgate correspondence
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