Mark Patterson is sworn in as a government minister, 27 November 2023. Photo: Johnny Blades
The Ministry for Primary Industries has stopped providing staff to Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson's office.
1News has reported that a whistleblower revealed that staff laid formal complaints, with more than one ministry staffer leaving the office.
Patterson - a New Zealand First List MP who is also Associate Minister of Agriculture and Regional Development - is understood not to be directly involved.
Ministries often provide secondees into the offices of ministers for support.
In a statement, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) confirmed it did not have any staff in the minister's office.
"We are working with Ministerial Services regarding staffing of the office, but as we have a duty of care to our employees, and to protect their privacy, we cannot comment further at this time.
"MPI does not currently have any staff in Minister Patterson's office. Please direct any further enquiries to Ministerial Services."
Patterson's office said he would not be commenting as it was a contractual matter between the staffers and their employer Ministerial Services.
In a statement, Ministerial Services said it was aware of complaints involving staff in Patterson's office, but the complaints were not related to the minister.
"As this is an employment matter, we will not be providing further details."
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