Trainees' drinking on conservation course riles National MP

National is calling for heads to roll after young people on a taxpayer-funded course were given alcohol by tutors and supervisors.

National MP Paula Bennett said Minister of Conservation Chris Carter must make sure someone was held accountable.

A group of 12 trainee conservationists on a work-experience trip on Stewart Island were given beer at an April 21 barbecue by Department of Conservation rangers.

The rangers also sold the School of Outdoor Studies pupils - who had signed a pledge not to drink during courses - beer from their social club.

Three of the students were under 18.

School of Outdoor Studies tutor Saffrina Welch - who kept a record of alcohol drunk - was suspended.

A spokesman for Mr Carter said the case was an operational matter and responsibility for the employment relationship for the staff involved rested with the director-general.

"But he's asked for a report on the matter from DoC and is expecting it next week."

It was too early to say if he would ensure someone was held accountable.

"I think he has to find out what happened in the first instance," the spokesman said.

Ms Bennett said she was contacted by a parent who had telephoned her 16-year-old son on the course to find he was "having a party with the other students and tutors and was quite drunk".

Ms Bennett said the fact drinking was allowed was outrageous but even worse was that the social club sold the students alcohol.

"I understand alcohol had been consumed on at least 10 occasions on the four-week trip, all with the knowledge of the supervisor or DoC staff.

"This is an abuse of trust and misuse of taxpayers' money."

Ms Bennett said parents were initially told the drinking was not a "big deal" and it was good Mr Carter realised it warranted an investigation.

"He must ensure this does not happen again on courses involving his department."

DoC's area manager for southern islands, Andy Roberts, told the Sunday News that during the April 21 incident the department paid for two dozen beer to have with a barbecue.

Anyone who wanted more could buy it from the social club at $2 a bottle.

"I was asked by my team whether buying the beer was an appropriate form of a thank you and I wasn't aware that there were 16-year-olds on the trip," he said.

"Our biggest mistake was taking at face value the assurances from the supervisor that these students were all of a drinking age."

School of Outdoor Studies general manager Peter Dobbs said he was treating the case seriously and said it breached the school's rules.

- NZPA