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And on page two of capital city's newspaper today. In Parliament (NZ's version of the Senate debate for you in the US) this is the sort of rubbish they were dealing with. Not the economy or the stae of the health system, but some whiney bludger you had her feeling hurt. FFS.
"A solo mother who says she was abused by a Work and Income case manager wants the man fired.
Tara Marks, with her one-year-old son, turned up at a Work and Income office in Rotorua to discuss getting a food grant
She told Radio New Zealand today that the case worker she had arranged to see was sick and she was directed to someone else.
"I went over to the desk, explained what I was wanting and what the case worker had said to me and he said no," she said.
"You could tell he wasn't really listening."
Ms Marks said the case manager had started going back over "stuff" she had already explained to the case worker.
"I asked if there was any way we could sort it out and he just said 'eff off'.
"He didn't say it, he mouthed it at me, which was real hurtful because there was a real smirk on his face, right in front of my son I was so upset," she said.
She said she walked out, but then decided she was not going to let him get away with treating her like that, so she put in a complaint.
She said she later received a phone call from a staff member investigating the complaint who told her the case manager alleged she called him a derogatory name, which offended him.
She denies this: "Even if I did, which I didn't, he should never speak to people like that.
"He actually said I called him a faggot, which I didn't.
"Even if I was in the wrong, even if I did say that, his job is to deal with situations and to deal with people who are like that.
"He shouldn't be working there. . . I want him fired."
Head of Work and Income Patricia Reid said if the allegation was proved the case manager, who is on leave, could face a range of penalties.
"There's never any excuse for abusive behaviour," she said.
"There is an investigation under way.
"In this case it is an employment matter, once all the facts are established and we've concluded the investigation then appropriate action will be taken."
Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson said yesterday the allegation was being taken seriously and she had confidence in Work and Income's chief executive to investigate it appropriately.
She gave her assurance after Green MP Sue Bradford raised the issue in Parliament."
"A solo mother who says she was abused by a Work and Income case manager wants the man fired.
Tara Marks, with her one-year-old son, turned up at a Work and Income office in Rotorua to discuss getting a food grant
She told Radio New Zealand today that the case worker she had arranged to see was sick and she was directed to someone else.
"I went over to the desk, explained what I was wanting and what the case worker had said to me and he said no," she said.
"You could tell he wasn't really listening."
Ms Marks said the case manager had started going back over "stuff" she had already explained to the case worker.
"I asked if there was any way we could sort it out and he just said 'eff off'.
"He didn't say it, he mouthed it at me, which was real hurtful because there was a real smirk on his face, right in front of my son I was so upset," she said.
She said she walked out, but then decided she was not going to let him get away with treating her like that, so she put in a complaint.
She said she later received a phone call from a staff member investigating the complaint who told her the case manager alleged she called him a derogatory name, which offended him.
She denies this: "Even if I did, which I didn't, he should never speak to people like that.
"He actually said I called him a faggot, which I didn't.
"Even if I was in the wrong, even if I did say that, his job is to deal with situations and to deal with people who are like that.
"He shouldn't be working there. . . I want him fired."
Head of Work and Income Patricia Reid said if the allegation was proved the case manager, who is on leave, could face a range of penalties.
"There's never any excuse for abusive behaviour," she said.
"There is an investigation under way.
"In this case it is an employment matter, once all the facts are established and we've concluded the investigation then appropriate action will be taken."
Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson said yesterday the allegation was being taken seriously and she had confidence in Work and Income's chief executive to investigate it appropriately.
She gave her assurance after Green MP Sue Bradford raised the issue in Parliament."
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