(File image) Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Former Labour Minister Kiri Allan told RNZ staff at a farewell for presenter Māni Dunlop that the broadcaster would come home from work "feeling broken and battered".
RNZ has released the full transcript of the speech Allan gave at the March leaving function for Dunlop, who was her fiance at the time.
The chief ombudsman ordered the release and the state broadcaster has complied.
RNZ had already published the former minister's comments about the organisation failing to hold on to Māori talent and its treatment of Māori staff.
Allan later made a public apology, saying her comments could have been been interpreted as a minister telling RNZ how to manage their staff.
The former minister spoke in a personal capacity at the event.
Chief ombudsman Peter Boshier began an investigation under the Official Information Act (OIA) after receiving three separate complaints about RNZ's decision to refuse requests for audio recordings or transcripts of the speech Allan gave in March this year.
RNZ refused the requests for the full speech on the basis that was necessary to protect Allan's privacy, the privacy of other individuals and to protect "the tikanga of RNZ and its kaimahi".
However, it released parts of a transcript of the speech for public interest reasons.
The broadcaster said there was a public interest in the two released comments "about RNZ, a public institution, and which do not affect the privacy of any other person", which were the basis for media reports and prompted a public apology from Allan.
Former minister Kiri Allan has advised the ombudsman she has no objection to the transcript being released, but not the audio. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
In her apology, Allan acknowledged her comments could have been interpreted as telling RNZ how to manage its staff or company, but "that was not my intent and it is certainly not my job".
Ministers are precluded from giving direction to the public broadcaster in relation to programming, complaints, allegations, newsgathering, news presentation, or responsibility for standards under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995.
At the time, RNZ's legal adviser George Bignell said the context of a private farewell where kaimahi and whānau were invited to speak openly and honestly, the sensitivity of emotional and private personal information, and the strong expectation of privacy "in the context of a farewell done in accordance with RNZ tikanga" contributed to the decision to withhold the other comments.
Boshier acknowledged those factors and agreed he would generally be of the view it should be withheld to protect the privacy of Dunlop and Allan, however, both had advised him they had no objections to the full written transcript being released.
"Therefore with the exception of the names of third parties referred to in the speech, RNZ was not entitled to withhold a transcript given Ms Allan and Ms Dunlop supported the release.
"I am of the view, however, that RNZ was entitled to refuse the request for an audio recording of the speech. An audio recording reveals more than a transcript, such as the tone of the speaker, and neither Ms Allan nor Ms Dunlop have consented to release of the audio."
Boshier has recommended that RNZ prepares and releases to the complainants a full transcript of the speech, while withholding the names of the third parties Allan referred to, within 21 working days.
An RNZ spokesperson said RNZ had already complied (today) with the ombudsman's ruling and had released the transcript of Kiri Allan's farewell speech to the three complainants. The spokesperson said people who had since made a request for the transcript would also be sent a copy.
If you're on mobile or the app, you can read the transcript here