Kevin Short
Role at the time: Former Chief of Defence Force and Davies's former commander, interviewed by the NZ Herald
Statement summary
Short says a junior airwoman would have found it very hard to speak out against her commanding officer, and that he ordered a command investigation around 2006 because the conduct was wrong even then.
“Oh, yes, it would be. It would be very hard to do that. ... In those days, it was still wrong ... because it was a power difference. And that’s why I started a command investigation.”
Former Chief of Defence Force Kevin Short tells the Herald he ordered a command investigation around 2006 into allegations about Davies and a junior member of 40 Squadron, and that nobody substantiated the relationship. He describes the Public Service Commission's selection process as including questions and declarations meant to surface past conduct. A Commission spokesman says Davies was appointed before its checks were strengthened and announces an internal assurance review of his appointment. Goldsmith says replacing Davies will wait until after the election.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
Relative to how integrity information about Davies was handled, Short presents the 2006 command investigation as his response to conduct that was wrong even then. He also concedes that the power imbalance made it very hard for a junior airwoman to speak out, a limit on what that inquiry could find. Condemns would describe his view of the relationship itself, which is not this case's reference point.