Health chief Rob Campbell stands by water-policy criticism

On LinkedIn, Mr Campbell wrote that leaving the solution to the obvious major issues with water services to the bodies that had failed to avert those issues “can only evince a John McEnroe ‘You cannot be serious!’ cry”.

“What on earth would make anyone think this was a sensible idea for debt raising alone, let alone the management and delivery of the tasks. Geographic and social inequities deepening while the infrastructure rots.

“I can only think that this is a thin disguise for the dog whistle on ‘co-governance’.

“Christopher Luxon might be able to rescue his party from stupidity on climate change but rescuing this from a well he has dug himself might be harder.”

The Herald reported National’s public service spokesperson Simeon Brown as saying Mr Campbell’s comments were inappropriate for a senior public servant. They appeared to breach the rules on political impartiality of senior public servants.

Newshub reported ACT leader David Seymour as saying Mr Campbell should “pull his head in” or resign.

The same article quoted Mr Campbell saying that his comments were consistent with the Public Service Commission’s code of conduct for Crown entity board members.

“The comments referred to were in a private capacity. I cannot see how a view on water reform could jeopardise my ability to perform my role at Te Whatu Ora nor erode public trust in Te Whatu Ora.”