Rights commissioner resigns over bullying row

Human Rights Commissioner Ella Henry has resigned after being accused by the police of using her position to bully a constable who caught her partner running a traffic light in West Auckland.

Ms Henry's resignation was accepted by Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson this morning.

Yesterday, Ms Wilson said Ms Henry had acted foolishly in writing to officer saying he had overreacted to a minor incident and suggested that he had been motivated by racism because her partner was "black".

But Ms Wilson said she would not ask Ms Henry to step down because she had apologised and admitted to police that her behaviour had been inappropriate.

This morning, Ms Wilson said she received Ms Henry's resignation from the Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Rosslyn Noonan.

"Ms Henry has acted in the best interests of the Human Rights Commission. I have accepted the resignation with regret and will advise the Governor-General accordingly."

Ms Noonan said Ms Henry was acting in the best interests of the Commission by resigning.