WELLINGTON: Stung by sexual abuse claims, New Zealand’s ruling Labour Party ordered a review of its internal procedures Wednesday in the first major crisis to hit Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s fledgling government. Police launched an investigation Wednesday while Ardern, who took power in October, admitted top officials in her party made mistakes in their handling of the incident. “That’s why the party is taking steps not to ensure it won’t happen again,” she told reporters. It said they reported the man’s behaviour to top Labour officials but no action was taken until three weeks later, when the story was poised to go public. Among those told of the abuse was Labour general secretary Andrew Kirton, seen as the architect of Ardern’s successful “Jacinda-mania” election campaign.

Source: New Strait Times March 14, 2018 05:15 UTC