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Hamilton Zoo worker awarded $18,000 over manager’s workplace conduct

Published

3 months ago

August 7, 2026

A young woman started working at Hamilton Zoo as an “excited, vibrant and bright student”.

But after a senior manager’s conduct affected her work, Ashleigh Sanders became “withdrawn and fearful of talking to others”.

During her time at the zoo, Sanders raised concerns about micromanagement, unclear processes, limited training opportunities, excessive workloads, animal welfare and the conduct of a senior manager, which she said ultimately left her feeling forced to resign.

Now, as a result of a claim lodged by Sanders to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), she has been awarded $18,000 in compensation.

According to the ERA’s decision, Sanders worked as a zookeeper at Hamilton Zoo, operated by Hamilton City Council (HCC).

After starting on a student placement, she became a permanent employee and later moved from part-time to fulltime work.

During her time at the zoo, she worked across several sections, including ungulates, natives and primates, and said she was often unclear about who she was reporting to.

Concerns grow at zoo

The zoo said some of the moves were at Sanders’ request after she was dissatisfied with her team leader or manager in certain teams.

She said she was concerned about animal treatment and welfare on several occasions but found responses to those concerns unsatisfactory, which was distressing for her.

Sanders said there were issues with short-staffing, meaning it was hard to get time off, and rosters were often announced late, so staff did not necessarily know where in the zoo they would be working the following day.

A new senior manager, who has name suppression, began working at the zoo and changed the working environment and management style, Sanders told the authority.

One change initiated by the manager was the addition of extra animal encounter sessions for customers, which Sanders saw as adding considerably to the workload of keepers without additional staff.

The man was later promoted to a more senior role and Sanders told the authority that was when he began selecting people to communicate with privately, including her.

A climate of fear

She said he often approached her when she was alone and questioned her in what she described as a “spy-like” manner, creating a “pseudo-safe place” that encouraged staff to disclose personal information.

One of her colleagues described him to the authority as “grooming” people he knew he could control and working to get rid of people he could not control, creating a climate of fear.

Sanders described a culture in which staff did not know who was watching them or passing information on to management and, as a result, she did not feel safe at work.

She recalled he asked her for private information about people and rewarded those who provided it with work opportunities when the information proved useful.

After some time, he started texting Sanders late at night, initially about work, then asking her out for coffee and whether she missed him, accompanied by a wink-face emoji, she told the authority.

She felt the behaviour escalated when she separated from her boyfriend, who also worked at the zoo.

Sanders told the authority the boss would tell her things about her ex-boyfriend’s work performance.

In an email to a friend, she said she felt her career progression had been “sabotaged” by the manager because of her dating someone who worked at the zoo.

About seven months after the manager’s employment with HCC ended, Sanders moved permanently to the primates team.

Despite morale at the zoo improving, she was unhappy and resigned seven months later.

She told the authority she had sent an email to HCC outlining her workplace concerns, but no one from HCC could confirm seeing it. The email could not be found on the system.

Council human resources and health and safety staff had been aware for some time of concerns raised by zoo staff.

There was evidence from one of Sanders’ co-workers involved with the Public Service Association (PSA) that staff were too fearful to come forward.

HCC chief executive Lance Vervoort said in an emailed statement to NZME the council acknowledged the impact the process may have had on those involved.

“We take the determination seriously and will consider any lessons arising from it. Given the confidential and personal nature of the case, and to respect legal processes, we will not be making any further comment.”

ERA member Nicola Craig ruled Sanders was disadvantaged by the manager’s actions.

“The behaviour comes very close to amounting to sexual harassment,” Craig wrote in the decision.

“There was an insidious element to it.”

Sanders told the authority she did not feel safe challenging or complaining about the manager.

“It is also more likely than not that [the manager] sought to make Ms Sanders give him information about others which he could use against them.”

Sanders’ evidence was that she was disadvantaged when she tried to put boundaries in place.

Constructive dismissal claim fails

But Craig could not establish that Sanders’ resignation was caused by breaches of duty by HCC.

“On the evidence before the authority, it was hard to conclude that Ms Sanders’ unhappiness about how she was treated by [the manager] or concerns about the culture [at that time] … were the cause of her resignation some 14 months after he left.

“Her resignation email is positive about her team leader.

“It is not established that Ms Sanders was constructively dismissed and thus her unjustified dismissal grievance is not successful.”

However, Craig found Sanders had been disadvantaged by the manager’s actions and awarded her $18,000 compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings.

* This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

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Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

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Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

3 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

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