Subscribe to Archivestuff Have your say An Environment Ministry manager lost her job after just three days because of her previously disclosed relationship with a senior National aide. Madeleine Setchell was hired as head of communications at the ministry last month, after a year-long search to fill the vacancy. Her long-time partner is Opposition leader John Key's chief press secretary, Kevin Taylor.
It is unclear whether she left by mutual agreement or was forced out, but The Dominion Post understands she was told to consider leaving as her domestic life created potential conflicts of interest. It is understood her relationship with Mr Taylor was made clear during the recruitment process and was not regarded at that point as a barrier. Government departments are apolitical entities, existing to serve the Government of the day - regardless of its political leanings - in a neutral way.
A spokesman for State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble confirmed Mr Prebble was called upon to help Environment Ministry chief executive Hugh Logan "exercise his best judgment in the interest of the department" over the matter. Mr Prebble is normally called in only to mediate employment disputes of a serious nature. Environment Minister David Benson-Pope refused to confirm whether he was involved in the decision, or whether he had regarded Ms Setchell's relationship with Mr Taylor as a problem.
"It is not appropriate for me to comment on individual employment matters with regard to the ministry." His chief executive said the ministry, not the minister, was "fully responsible" for all staff appointments. "The ministry is not in a position to comment further on individual employment matters," Mr Logan said.
Neither Ms Setchell nor Mr Taylor would comment. Close relationships between people from conflicting groups are not unusual in Wellington's tight political and business circles. Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard's marriage to venture capitalist Jenny Morel is well known, as is National MP Murray McCully's relationship with columnist Jane Clifton.
Heather Church, who is married to Prime Minister Helen Clark's former chief press secretary Mike Munro, was public relations head for the Qualifications Authority - a Crown entity - when Mr Munro left the Beehive in 2005.
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