Ngai Tahu’s business arm has expressed disappointment with Immigration New Zealand for giving out inaccurate figures on the number of foreign drivers employed by Go Bus.
The disappointment of Go Bus’s majority shareholder arises after INZ contacted the Otago Daily Times to acknowledge it was incorrect when it said 35% of Go Bus’ drivers were on work visas when it was monitoring the company last year.
The figure was used in an ODT article after Go Bus came in for criticism for housing at least one migrant worker at its Dunedin bus depot.
An INZ spokesman said the figure was based on the recollection of an INZ manager following a meeting with Go Bus in November last year.
"It now transpires that the figure mentioned by the Go Bus representative was ‘off the cuff’ and should never have been relied upon.
"The figure also referred to the percentage of Christchurch urban bus drivers employed by Go Bus on work visas in the Canterbury region, rather than across the whole country," the spokesman said.
In an email leaked to the ODT, Ngai Tahu Holdings chief executive Mike Sang expressed his frustration at the figure being used by INZ.
"Go Bus have written to the Minister of Immigration Rt Hon Michael Woodhouse asking that he seek clarification from his ministry and request an immediate retraction of the statements that have been made.
"They have also written previously to INZ asking why it continues to state incorrect information — at this time there has been no response," he said.
Go Bus actually employed 2043 staff of whom only 97 (4.7%) were on work visas.
"We wish to be clear that Go Bus does not currently recruit offshore and makes no distinction between workers who are legally able to work within New Zealand."
He also said it was aware wider Ngai Tahu members took a "high level of interest in what we do and expect we go about our business in the right way and in line with our values".
"This type of reporting is very frustrating and undermines the good name and reputation of Go Bus and Ngai Tahu."
Mr Sang did not want to make further comment when contacted by the ODT, but did say he was "disappointed" with INZ for providing the figure.
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Comments
Ngai Tahu are developing a serious trait of being a corporate thug. Their attitude is everything we do is great because its for the tribe. Sorry but I don't agree.
This issue shows their attitude to employee welfare - it is poor. If they can bring in cheap foreign workers rather than train New Zealanders they will!
The moves on the West Coast to create a monopoly in helicopter tourism is another prime example. Just bully competitors out, no questions asked.
It is time the whole Ngai Tahu business be treated the same as any other large business. No more preferential government and council deals and support.