MEDIAWATCH: Spinoff scoop another broken Rainbow

Another impressive scoop from The Spinoff on the bizarre appointment of a Zionist apologist to the Human Rights Commission…

‘I didn’t get the HRC job’: Stephen Rainbow’s Human Rights Commission appointment just got weirder

New messages released under the OIA show Rainbow acknowledged he ‘didn’t get the HRC job’ – then suddenly he did. Madeleine Chapman reports.

“I didn’t get the HRC role but still very keen to help out,” wrote Stephen Rainbow to Act Party chief of staff Andrew Ketels in a text message on May 22 this year. Rainbow had applied for the position of chief human rights commissioner, after being nominated by Act leader David Seymour, and been interviewed for the job in March. He did not receive a text back from Ketels.

But nearly three months later, Ketels did text. “Congratulations!” On that day, Rainbow had been announced by justice minister Paul Goldsmith as the new chief human rights commissioner. “Thanks Andrew,” Rainbow replied. “Appreciate the opportunity to serve my country.” He is due to start in his role at the commission next week.

So how did a man apply for a job, not get shortlisted for an interview by the independent assessment panel, get added to the shortlist by Goldsmith, have an interview, be “not recommended” by the panel, be at the very least under the impression he did not get the job, then somehow find himself three months later with that very job?

…this appointment is starting to reek.

I’m less concerned with Rainbow’s supposed anti-Trans views (they are only ‘problematic’ to the uber woke) and far more worried about what appointing an Israeli apologist to the position AT THE SAME TIME as Israel is committing a real time ethnic cleansing war crime means to the mana of the Human Rights Commission…

The Spinoff has viewed documents with fewer redactions that show Rainbow was specifically noted as “not recommended” by the panel following his interview. Pacheco was listed as “highly appointable”. Two of the candidates for race relations commissioner (neither of whom were Derby as she was not initially interviewed) were graded as “highly appointable” by the panel.

…that Rainbow was purposely NOT recommended is a damning indictment on his appointment and the total lack of authority he now has after this revelation makes him a lame duck Commissioner who will have no moral authority on any issue.

The Right are purposely filling positions in institutions to undermine those institutions the way they just did with appointing mad dog Prebs to the Waitangi Tribunal.

The Right wants to destroy these institutions from the inside and we will be a poorer and more empty society because of that sabotage.

This is who we are now, this is what we have become.

 

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