Mr Hawkins shared confidential information from a public and staff-excluded meeting assessing council chief executive Sue Bidrose’s performance with Dr Bidrose last year. And while in general the briefing Mr Hawkins gave was "usual", some detail should have been kept confidential, Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law partner Steph Dyhrberg found. Also, the confidentiality breach was compounded because Dr Bidrose shared the information with two of her staff. When Mr Hawkins was interviewed for the investigation he did not recall discussing with Dr Bidrose who had put the matter up for a vote. Dr Bidrose could not recall if Mr Hawkins said yes, "but she was certain he did not say no".

Source: Otago Daily Times June 17, 2020 16:34 UTC