Bloomfield said there would be some changes to the reporting of Covid related deaths. Video / NZ Herald
A lawyer representing New Zealand journalist Charlotte Bellis says the actions of Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins were "disgraceful" after it emerged he publicly disclosed private information about her despite officials telling him it was "not for public comment".
Bellis was unable to secure an emergency MIQ spot despite being pregnant and stuck in Afghanistan. Soon after her case made headlines she was offered an emergency MIQ place.
As criticism mounted against Hipkins over his handling of the situation, he released her personal information about when he believed she had arrived in Afghanistan and that she had been offered consular assistance without her consent.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. Photo / Mark Mitchell
This information turned out not to be true, as Bellis was not in Afghanistan at the time the assistance was allegedly provided.
The information was also used against Bellis; people misinterpreted Hipkins' comments and posted online Bellis had turned down MIQ spots, which was untrue.
Bellis' lawyer has claimed Hipkins had breached the journalist's privacy by sharing those details, which she had not consented to being made public.
Charlotte Bellis was rejected an emergency MIQ spot despite being pregnant and stuck in Afghanistan. Photo / Jim Huylebroek
National's Covid-19 response spokesman Chris Bishop today revealed that responses to written parliamentary questions, which show Hipkins received the information from Mfat officials but was told all personal information was "not for public comment".
The information, which included a briefing and media lines, was originally provided to Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta under a "no surprises" convention, given she was likely to receive media queries.
"The media lines provided followed established practice in noting that 'for privacy reasons, we do not disclose details regarding individual cases'," Mahuta's response said.
Asked about this situation this morning before the health select committee, Hipkins repeatedly refused to answer questions about his actions, citing Bellis' privacy.
Bellis' lawyer Tudor Clee said that Hipkins had turned the information against Bellis as "a political weapon to smear her reputation with untruths was disgraceful".
"By saying Bellis had been offered consular assistance twice since December - which was simply untrue - it misled the public and resulted in vicious online personal attacks."
The sole reason for Bellis to come forward was to highlight issues with the MIQ system, he said.
"It is disappointing the response from Minister Hipkins was not constructive, relevant or even true and ultimately harmful to a New Zealand citizen."
Bishop said Hipkins needed to apologise to Bellis for disclosing that private information and show accountability.
"He has weaponised her personal information for political gain.
"It is totally unacceptable that Chris Hipkins used personal information that only a few people had access to in order to try and smear Charlotte Bellis.
