RNZ board member Jason Ake. Photo: Supplied
A member of RNZ's board should not be sharing his opinion on Kiri Allan's return to work amid mental health struggles publicly, the prime minister says.
The former minister of justice resigned from all her portfolios on Monday morning after she was arrested and charged in relation to a car crash.
She had recently returned to work after struggling with her mental health, but in a statement, said the incident had proven she was not "okay".
Former minister Kiri Allan. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Following news breaking about Allan's arrest and resignation, recently-appointed RNZ board member and former journalist Jason Ake took to his public Facebook page to question why she was cleared to return to Parliament.
"I'm not surprised by this latest episode at all and I don't know why she was cleared to return to mahi last week. All the signs were there," he wrote.
"I agree she is a public figure and she ought to avail herself to a higher level of public scrutiny. But that's not the issue. There will be a cohort throwing their hands in feigned dis-belief while quietly smirking that they contributed in someway to the palaver.
"When there's blood in the water the sharks circle and they're more than happy to digest every last morsel and watch the bones sink to the depths. It is a blood sport."
"I think the question is whether or not we see a repeat, whether there's a pattern of behaviour or something that is a one-off" - PM Chris Hipkins
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told Morning Report it was not appropriate for a board member of a Crown entity to publish his opinions in such a public space.
"Somebody who is on a board of a Crown entity, particularly an independent media entity like Radio New Zealand, shouldn't be providing an independent political commentary."
Hipkins said it was ultimately a matter for the broadcasting minister.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
"Everybody's human and I think the question is whether or not we see a repeat, whether there's a pattern of behaviour or something that is a one-off.
"If he was to continue to go in this vein and continue to ride a stream of independent political commentary, I think that would question whether or not he was the right person to be on the board of Radio New Zealand."
In a statement, the RNZ board said chairperson Dr Jim Mather, who is currently overseas, has been made aware of the issue and has spoken to Ake about his responsibilities under the Code of Conduct for Crown entity board members.
He specifically informed Ake of the protocol which states "when acting in our private capacity, we avoid any political activity that could jeopardise our ability to perform our role or which could erode the public's trust in the entity".
Mather acknowledged that Ake was new to the board and "will be discussing the matter with him directly upon his return from overseas at the end of this week".
"No further comment will be made until Dr Mather and Mr Ake have had that opportunity to discuss the matter."
However, Ake has continued to provide commentary on the issue, saying in a new social media post the situation elevated the opportunity for Māori to have conversations about mental health.
RNZ has approached Ake for comment.
Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson said Ake has always been a vocal person and will need to stop if he is to remain an RNZ board member.
Jackson agreed with Hipkins' comments.
"He (Ake) will pull back though because as I said, the chair's been in touch and he's going to have to if he wants to stay a board member there."
Earlier this year, Health New Zealand's board chairperson Rob Campbell was sacked over a political attack he made about the National Party's Three Waters policy.
Campbell took to LinkedIn to criticise National's Three Waters policy as a thin disguise for dog-whistling on co-governance.
The comments drew swift criticism from both sides of the political aisles - National saying they were "appalling" while Hipkins described them as "inappropriate".