Lincoln University horrified after undercover encounter with new boss

Professor Robin Pollard posed as a report writer while interviewing staff at Lincoln University.

Academic staff at a South Island university are livid after a future tertiary boss went undercover posing as a report writer before he took the top job.

Around 20 staff were interviewed by a "visiting academic" preparing a report for Lincoln University council about concerns at the southern campus.

Tertiary Education Union local organiser Cindy Doull said it wasn't until the end of the interview horrified staff were told the academic's true identity, Professor Robin Pollard, their future boss.

Pollard also told shocked staff he was the preferred candidate for the vacant vice-chancellor job, a position he has since taken.

The union said many staff felt they had been duped after being open and frank to the "report writer" about concerns they had with the university.

"A number of staff are very distressed that they were deliberately misled as to the real purpose of the meetings," she said.

"Some of our members are even jokingly calling him the mystery shopper."

If they were aware of the man's true identity they would still have made the same remarks but phrased them differently, said Ms Doull.

The union was now considering legal action, including making a complaint to the Employment Relations Authority.

She said the method used was appalling and considered the undercover meetings with staff a breach of good faith.

University Chancellor Tom Lambie told Fairfax the council had confidence in Mr Pollard's appointment.

He said the way it was handled was "necessary to follow on this occasion".

Mr Pollard was on holiday in the New Zealand and this allowed him to carry out due diligence before accepting the position.