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Attorney-General Michael Cullen has rejected suggestions he was forced to offer Wellington coroner Garry Evans a temporary position, saying relief coroners are being appointed because of a backlog of 1900 cases.
The omission of Mr Evans' name on the list of 13 full-time coroners last week drew criticism
from a wide range of individuals and organisations and raised questions it might have been politically motivated because of Mr Evans' outspokenness.
Mr Evans, from Wellington, and Sarn Henderson, from Auckland, were appointed yesterday by the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil Maclean, to help reduce the backlog of coronial inquiries. National MP Chris Finlayson described the appointment process as a shambles and said Dr Cullen had been rolled by Wellington-based backbenchers Marian Hobbs and Charles Chauvel into offering Mr Evans a temporary position.
But Dr Cullen said that wasn't true.
"I hate to disappoint the member's fantasy life but I've not been rolled by Marian Hobbs, much as I might wish I could be," he told Mr Finlayson.
Mr Evans had been appointed as a relief coroner because there was a 1900-case backlog, which showed how much the system needed changing, Dr Cullen told Parliament.
Mr Finlayson suggested Dr Cullen had been vindictive in not appointing Mr Evans.
"Will the Attorney-General now confirm that both the new chief coroner and the interview panel recommended the appointment of Mr Evans as a full-time coroner and that he rejected those recommendations in his usual vindictive manner much to the disgust of trade unions, Marian Hobbs, Charles Chauvel, the press, the legal profession, victims' families and indeed most of Wellington?" Mr Finlayson asked.
He asked Dr Cullen to release the advice but the minister said he never released advice he received in relation to appointments.
Dr Cullen also rejected the contention that Mr Evans had been sacked, saying the part-time positions had ceased.
"One-third of those previous part-time positions became full-time positions. Many coroners were not reappointed. The new coroner for Wellington is a very outspoken person," Dr Cullen said.
Over the past decade Mr Evans has criticised district health boards, transport authorities and many other agencies. He has called for changes to maternity services, drug policy and road safety measures.
Some of his recommendations were taken up by Government; others were ignored.
- NZPA