Good Morning Mark

I acknowledge your email of 5 March 2017, requesting, under the Official Information Act:

“1.How did she become aware of the position being available -e.g: by advertisement, word of mouth, existing MOT employee, or referral by a recruitment company, etc?

2. If Joanne Harrison was recommended to the MoT by a recruitment company:
a. who is that company?
b. how much was it paid for this placement?
c. is the MoT pursuing a refund of this fee?
d. what specific background screening checks did the recruitment company undertake for the MOT?
e. Were the results of these background screening checks submitted to the MoT in writing, and were they all positive?
f. Did the recruitment company contact any of her previous employers? What were the results of those checks?
f. is the MoT still using this recruitment company?

3. If Joanne Harrison's application for employment was instead handled internally by the MoT's own staff, could you please advise:
a. What specific background screening checks did the MoT undertake and what was the actual result of each of these checks?
b. Did the Ministry undertake a criminal record check? What was that result?
c. Did the Ministry contact any of her previous employers? What were the results of those checks?
d. Was Joanne Harrison asked to nominate any referees? Were those referees contacted? What did these referees say about Joanne Harrison?
e. Following her suspension from the MoT, what checks did the MoT then undertake on Joanne Harrison's background and what was the result of these checks?

4a. When did the MoT first learn Joanne Harrison had a conviction for defrauding a previous employer?
b. How much did that fraud involve?
c. Was the victim of that fraud ever contacted during Joanne Harrison's recruitment and did it disclose her conviction to the MoT?
d. When and how did the MoT first learn of Joanne Harrison's other surnames of Sharp and Sidebottom?

5. How much did Ernst & Young invoice the MoT for its (actual)15-page review of the MoT's employment screening practices?

6. Has any MoT employee been the subject of any disciplinary action, including the withholding of bonuses or salary increments as a consequence of the MoT employing Joanne Harrison?

Thank you for your assistance. I recognise the sensitives of this case and excepting for the identity of the recruitment company (if one was used - and I am specifically asking for its identity), I am not asking the MoT to identify any other individuals or companies that it approached during Joanne Harrison's recruitment, or your subsequent inquiry when she was suspended.”

We will consider your request and respond appropriately as set out in the Official Information Act 1982.

Regards,

Annemarie Perera
Official Correspondence Coordinator - Organisational Development
Ministry of Transport – Te Manatū Waka

T: 64 21 02296965 | E: [email address] | www.transport.govt.nz |

Ensuring our transport system helps New Zealand thrive

-----Original Message-----
From: Holly Nepia On Behalf Of Reception Desk
Sent: Monday, 6 March 2017 8:51 a.m.
To: OCU
Subject: FW: Official Information request - Recruitment of now convicted MOT employee Joanne Harrison

Holly Nepia
E: [email address] | www.transport.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Williams [mailto:[FYI request #5489 email]]
Sent: Sunday, 5 March 2017 6:39 p.m.
To: Info
Subject: Official Information request - Recruitment of now convicted MOT employee Joanne Harrisson

Dear Ministry of Transport,

Now that Joanne Harrison has been sentenced to imprisonment for her circa $750,00 fraud committed against the MoT, could you please advise the circumstances of her employment to her senior position in the Ministry.

1. How did she become aware of the position being available -e.g: by advertisement, word of mouth, existing MOT employee, or referral by a recruitment company, etc?

2. If Joanne Harrison was recommended to the MoT by a recruitment company:
a. who is that company?
b. how much was it paid for this placement?
c. is the MoT pursuing a refund of this fee?
d. what specific background screening checks did the recruitment company undertake for the MOT?
e. Were the results of these background screening checks submitted to the MoT in writing, and were they all positive?
f. Did the recruitment company contact any of her previous employers? What were the results of those checks?
f. is the MoT still using this recruitment company?

3. If Joanne Harrison's application for employment was instead handled internally by the MoT's own staff, could you please advise:
a. What specific background screening checks did the MoT undertake and what was the actual result of each of these checks?
b. Did the Ministry undertake a criminal record check? What was that result?
c. Did the Ministry contact any of her previous employers? What were the results of those checks?
d. Was Joanne Harrison asked to nominate any referees? Were those referees contacted? What did these referees say about Joanne Harrison?
e. Following her suspension from the MoT, what checks did the MoT then undertake on Joanne Harrison's background and what was the result of these checks?

4a. When did the MoT first learn Joanne Harrison had a conviction for defrauding a previous employer?
b. How much did that fraud involve?
c. Was the victim of that fraud ever contacted during Joanne Harrison's recruitment and did it disclose her conviction to the MoT?
d. When and how did the MoT first learn of Joanne Harrison's other surnames of Sharp and Sidebottom?

5. How much did Ernst & Young invoice the MoT for its (actual)15-page review of the MoT's employment screening practices?

6. Has any MoT employee been the subject of any disciplinary action, including the withholding of bonuses or salary increments as a consequence of the MoT employing Joanne Harrison?

Thank you for your assistance. I recognise the sensitives of this case and excepting for the identity of the recruitment company (if one was used - and I am specifically asking for its identity), I am not asking the MoT to identify any other individuals or companies that it approached during Joanne Harrison's recruitment, or your subsequent inquiry when she was suspended.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Williams

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #5489 email]

Is [MOT request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry of Transport? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

Wellington (Head Office) | 318 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | PO Box 3175 | Wellington 6011 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 4 439 9000 | Fax: +64 4 439 9001
Auckland | NZ Government Auckland Policy Office | 45 Queen Street | PO Box 106238 | Auckland City | Auckland 1143 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 9 9854827 | Fax: +64 9 9854849

Disclaimer: This email is only intended to be read by the named recipient. It may contain information which is confidential, proprietary or the subject of legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient you must delete this email and may not use any information contained in it. Legal privilege is not waived because you have read this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email
________________________________

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Hi there,

 

Please find attached a response to your official information act request
regarding Joanne Harrison.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Holly Nepia

Business Support Adviser
Organisational Development

Ministry of Transport – Te Manatû Waka

E: [1][email address] | [2]www.transport.govt.nz

 

Ensuring our transport system helps New Zealand thrive

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
Wellington (Head Office) | 318 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | PO Box
3175 | Wellington 6011 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 4 439 9000 | Fax: +64 4
439 9001
Auckland | NZ Government Auckland Policy Office | 45 Queen Street | PO Box
106238 | Auckland City | Auckland 1143 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 9 9854827
| Fax: +64 9 9854849

Disclaimer: This email is only intended to be read by the named recipient.
It may contain information which is confidential, proprietary or the
subject of legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient you must
delete this email and may not use any information contained in it. Legal
privilege is not waived because you have read this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.transport.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Hi Mark

Apologies for the delay.

Please see attached response and send it to you today 4/4/2017 9.30am.

Regards
Annemarie 02102296965

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Williams [mailto:[FOI #5489 email]]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 April 2017 8:18 a.m.
To: OCU
Subject: RE: Official Information request - Recruitment of now convicted MOT employee Joanne Harrison

Dear OCU,
you have exceeded the statutory 20-working period in which to respond to my request of 5 March and the Ministry is now in breach of the Official Information Act.

The Act requires Government agencies to respond promptly. Please respond immediately to this e-mail with either the information requested or an explanation on why you have not yet answered my OIA request of 5 March 2017.

Yours sincerely,
Mark Williams

-----Original Message-----

Good Morning Mark

I acknowledge your email of 5 March 2017, requesting, under the Official Information Act:

“1.How did she become aware of the position being available -e.g: by advertisement, word of mouth, existing MOT employee, or referral by a recruitment company, etc?

2. If Joanne Harrison was recommended to the MoT by a recruitment company:
a. who is that company?
b. how much was it paid for this placement?
c. is the MoT pursuing a refund of this fee?
d. what specific background screening checks did the recruitment company undertake for the MOT?
e. Were the results of these background screening checks submitted to the MoT in writing, and were they all positive?
f. Did the recruitment company contact any of her previous employers? What were the results of those checks?
f. is the MoT still using this recruitment company?

3. If Joanne Harrison's application for employment was instead handled internally by the MoT's own staff, could you please advise:
a. What specific background screening checks did the MoT undertake and what was the actual result of each of these checks?
b. Did the Ministry undertake a criminal record check? What was that result?
c. Did the Ministry contact any of her previous employers? What were the results of those checks?
d. Was Joanne Harrison asked to nominate any referees? Were those referees contacted? What did these referees say about Joanne Harrison?
e. Following her suspension from the MoT, what checks did the MoT then undertake on Joanne Harrison's background and what was the result of these checks?

4a. When did the MoT first learn Joanne Harrison had a conviction for defrauding a previous employer?
b. How much did that fraud involve?
c. Was the victim of that fraud ever contacted during Joanne Harrison's recruitment and did it disclose her conviction to the MoT?
d. When and how did the MoT first learn of Joanne Harrison's other surnames of Sharp and Sidebottom?

5. How much did Ernst & Young invoice the MoT for its (actual)15-page review of the MoT's employment screening practices?

6. Has any MoT employee been the subject of any disciplinary action, including the withholding of bonuses or salary increments as a consequence of the MoT employing Joanne Harrison?

Thank you for your assistance. I recognise the sensitives of this case and excepting for the identity of the recruitment company (if one was used - and I am specifically asking for its identity), I am not asking the MoT to identify any other individuals or companies that it approached during Joanne Harrison's recruitment, or your subsequent inquiry when she was suspended.”

We will consider your request and respond appropriately as set out in the Official Information Act 1982.

Regards,

Annemarie Perera
Official Correspondence Coordinator - Organisational Development
Ministry of Transport – Te Manatū Waka

T: 64 21 02296965 | E: [email address] | www.transport.govt.nz |

Ensuring our transport system helps New Zealand thrive

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #5489 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

Wellington (Head Office) | 318 Lambton Quay, Wellington Central | PO Box 3175 | Wellington 6011 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 4 439 9000 | Fax: +64 4 439 9001
Auckland | NZ Government Auckland Policy Office | 45 Queen Street | PO Box 106238 | Auckland City | Auckland 1143 | NEW ZEALAND | Tel: +64 9 9854827 | Fax: +64 9 9854849

Disclaimer: This email is only intended to be read by the named recipient. It may contain information which is confidential, proprietary or the subject of legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient you must delete this email and may not use any information contained in it. Legal privilege is not waived because you have read this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email
________________________________

hide quoted sections