Hipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hipkins Chris: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 14 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:8561. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) 
 to the  
Minister of State Services 
: What reasons did the State Services Commission give him for Lesley Longstone’s resignation when he was briefed by them on 6 December 2012? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of State Services) 
: 
 On meeting with the State Services Commission on 6 December I was advised that Ms Longstone and the State Services Commissioner were in discussions about her standing down as chief executive. This reflected their joint view that there had been a number of issues that had not gone well during 2012 including the relationship with her Minister and that a change of leadership was necessary to enable the Ministry of Education to move forward. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Did the Minister of Education convey any specific concerns about Lesley Longstone’s performance to the State Services Commission; if so what was the nature of those concerns? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: It made it clear that there were issues in the relationship but I have also had advice from the State Services Commissioner that to discuss performance issues would be a breach of confidence. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Did the Minister of Education indicate to the State Services Commission that Lesley Longstone had undertaken any action that was inconsistent with the Government’s direction; if so what did she do? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: I am not sure whether there was an indication that Ms Longstone had undertaken any such action but it was clear that there were issues in the relationship between the Minister and the chief executive. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Did the State Services Commissioner indicate to him at the briefing that Lesley Longstone’s resignation was contingent upon her receiving a payment; if so did he indicate his agreement that such a payment should be made? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: To the best of my recollection the resignation was not contingent on a payment. However as subsequently became evident there was discussion around a payment. But I would emphasise as I did the other day that I did not sign off on any payment until after the resignation. 
Chris Hipkins 
: When did he indicate to the State Services Commission the Government’s agreement to Lesley Longstone receiving $425000? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: My recollection of it is that it was on 18 December when the package was put to me following her resignation—or following not the public announcement but the formal conveying of her resignation to the State Services Commissioner. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Does he agree with the State Services Commissioner who described Lesley Longstone as “a highly competent and dedicated individual” and stated that she could be re-employed elsewhere within the Public Service; if so why does he believe that the public do not have a right to know exactly why it is that she received a $425000 payout as part of her resignation? 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: I am happy to say why she received that payout. As I said the other day there was a certain part that was part of her contract around paying out holiday pay but there was also a view that to move the— 
Sue Moroney 
: She’d only been there 12 months. 
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: Well it was contractual. There was a view that actually in the context of a $12 billion vote there were things that needed to be done subsequently in education and there was a mutual agreement that a change of leadership at the ministry was necessary in order for that to occur.