Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Sport

Chiefs sponsor supports players after stripper scandal

4 Aug, 2016 04:42 AM5 minutes to read
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen stand-up, commenting on training, Super Rugby and the Chiefs stripper scandal.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen stand-up, commenting on training, Super Rugby and the Chiefs stripper scandal.

NZ Herald

The Chiefs' major sponsor has supported the franchise following allegations of inappropriate contact with a stripper.

Gallagher Group corporate services executive Margaret Comer said she was "reluctant to say that the boys were out of line" after a stripper accused unnamed Chiefs players of touching her during the team's Mad Monday celebrations.

DO YOU KNOW MORE? EMAIL THE HERALD

"If a woman takes her clothes off and walks around in a group of men, what are we supposed to do if one of them tries to touch her," Comer told Fairfax.

"It's not nice and perhaps the stripper shouldn't have been hired, but I'm reluctant to say that the boys were out of line."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Comer, a trustee on the board of Waikato Women's Refuge, said hiring a stripper was a "stupid damn thing to do" but the matter had been dealt with appropriately.

Women's Refuge New Zealand chief executive, Dr Ang Jury, described Comer's comments as "appalling and disappointing".

"She's so far out of line I don't even understand where she is coming from ... this shouldn't have happened. It's the sort of [attitude] we fight off every day.

"Maybe it's indicative of what a lot of people in New Zealand think. I hope not."

Comer was on the board of Te Whakaruruhau Maori Women's Refuge, which was an independent refuge not affiliated with Women's Refuge New Zealand, Jury said.

Waikato Refuge is not an affiliated refuge of ours. The comments made are disappointing and don't represent or reflect our kaupapa. šŸ˜” #Shame

— Women's Refuge New Zealand (@womensrefugenz) August 4, 2016

Gallagher Group chief executive, Sir William Gallagher, said this evening he would "rather not" comment on what Comer had said.

Related articles

Sport|Rugby

Stripper: Chiefs had 'pack mentality'

03 Aug 08:14 PM
Sport|Rugby

Hansen warns ABs after stripper scandal

04 Aug 12:55 AM
Sport

Cartoon: Waikato Chiefs or Mischiefs?

04 Aug 07:57 PM
Business

'The worst crisis handling ever'

04 Aug 10:25 PM

He acknowledged her comments reflected badly on Gallagher Group, but wouldn't comment further and hung up when asked if he had spoken with Comer today.

Chiefs boss Andrew Flexman earlier expressed his regret at the way he addressed allegations of improper behaviour with a stripper at the team's season ending function.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Speaking to Radio Sport's Martin Devlin, Flexman said the comments do not reflect his values.

"Having read the comment verbatim it was one thing that jumped out to me. It was a high pressure environment when I made the comment, and the context around making the comment is somewhat relevant.

"It certainly gives the impression that there are questions around her integrity given her vocation... I regret the way it's been phrased if I'm honest."

In a later press conference, Flexman said he was "really, really disappointed" a stripper had been hired and "did not condone" that decision.

He said an investigation would be launched immediately and "appropriate action" would be taken against players if the stripper's allegations were proved correct.

Earlier, Flexman had cast doubts on the credibility of the allegations. However, during the press conference he said "no assumptions" would be made before the investigation was complete.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The press conference was cut short as reporters asked questions including if any All Blacks were involved.

The scandal erupted after a stripper was booked by the team at their season-ending function at the Okoroire hot pools near Matamata.

She alleged the players touched her inappropriately during her performance.

The stripper, known as Scarlette, told Radio New Zealand it was an intimidating job and the players had no respect.

"I made it very clear that I didn't want to be touched, even though I had a smile on my face it doesn't affect the words coming out of your mouth - that was just me maintaining my professionalism, trying to get out of there safely," she said.

"I had one of the players going through my phone, they proceeded to lick me in places that I don't totally agree with. I felt like I was pressured for that."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

She told Radio New Zealand that the incident should be investigated and disagreed with the Chiefs' view on events.

"Well then they weren't looking, were they? I mean, that's where it turns into a 'he said, she said' part of the argument which I believe is present in any case of sexual abuse, anything like that.

"If my word means nothing, then so does every other woman's word that's ever said anything against someone."

Flexman had said that the stripper's claims were "one person's accusation and her standing in the community and culpability is not beyond reproach".

He told Devlin the comment was "not consistent with who I am and my values".

"I'm not in a position to make that assertion because I don't know the woman from a bar of soap."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

He agreed that he needed to apologise to the woman.

"Absolutely, the context is important for me but in terms of the way it's been phrased I regret it."

Flexman said the incident would result in an investigation into the organisation's culture.

"We expect better from our players and as an organisation. We are disappointed this has happened and we weren't made aware of the players' intentions.

"We'll be seeing if we need to ask some deeper and harder questions."

The allegations come after lock Michael Allardice apologised for chanting "here come the gays" and offending members of the public present at the pools.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Talanoa

Netflix doco revisits Manti Te'o catfish hoax a decade later

19 Aug 01:30 AM
Video

Hawke Bay footballer topped ESPN's plays of the day

Premium
Sport|Rugby

'Joy, despair and disbelief': How Rotorua rugby schoolboys stunned Hamilton

18 Aug 10:17 PM
Sport

Hawke's Bay footballer's wonder goal the top play on ESPN

18 Aug 10:11 PM
Sport

'It's sexual assault': Former NRL star banned after vulgar on-field act

18 Aug 09:17 PM

Most Popular

Watch live: Not over yet - Civil Defence warns of more heavy rainfall for Tasman region
New ZealandUpdated

Watch live: Not over yet - Civil Defence warns of more heavy rainfall for Tasman region

19 Aug 01:45 AM
'It's not fair': Dangerous Aussie Comancheros boss to be deported to NZ
New Zealand|Crime

'It's not fair': Dangerous Aussie Comancheros boss to be deported to NZ

19 Aug 12:39 AM
Premium
Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price
Business

Cecilia Robinson rejoins My Food Bag board amid 'deeply disappointing' share price

19 Aug 12:04 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
Ā© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP