Wintec spent $175,000 of public money to help its chief executive avoid having a face-to-face interview with a Stuff investigative reporter.

After two years and dozens of questions, the only answers came in a "not for publication" written format from high-powered law firm Bell Gully.

The two-year investigation by Stuff has been fraught with obstacles.

MARK TAYLOR/STUFF Wintec spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal advice about questions from a Stuff reporter (file photo).

After initially agreeing to a face-to-face interview in December 2015, Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers reneged and demanded questions be put in writing.

The allegations involved a confidential 2015 investigation into Flowers, as well as questions involving places he and members of his executive team visited as part of overseas business trips for the tertiary provider.

In an Official Information Act request, it was revealed that Flowers and members of his executive frequented Hari's Golden Mile Bar in Hong Kong during business trips.

In a public statement sent to Stuff on Friday morning, which was accompanied with a reminder to keep quiet on the allegations or risk facing legal action, Wintec acknowledged there was an independent and confidential authority investigation into the matters initially raised by Stuff.

That independent investigation cleared Flowers of any wrongdoing.

Wintec publicly acknowledged the independent investigation for the first time in a statement from Wintec council chairman Barry Harris on December 1, 2017.

Harris defended Wintec's decision to spend $175,000 protecting Flowers from answering any questions publicly or in person.

Harris labelled all allegations baseless and defamatory, despite subsequent allegations being put to Wintec that were not investigated by the independent authority.

Harris also refused to be interviewed on the matter and instead directed all questions to Wintec communications manager Erin Andersen.

Flowers has gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid answering questions in person.

Since December 2015, Stuff has made dozens of attempts to contact Flowers.

He has always refused to meet.

Stuff once approached Flowers when he pulled into his chief executive car park on a crisp Friday morning just after 7 o'clock at Wintec's city campus.

Flowers slammed his door shut, locked the doors, turned his radio up, jammed his four-door SUV into reverse and left the car park.

Stuff was furnished with an email two hours after the encounter by Andersen, who said Flowers could not hear the questions being asked.

"Further to my call this morning, I wanted to reiterate that this morning I understand you tried to intercept Mark Flowers this morning as he was driving into a car park at Wintec. He did not hear what was being said as he was pulling into the car park," she wrote in an email.

"We have clearly stated to you on several occasions that Wintec will consider a response once we receive your questions in writing."

A majority of responses to written questions have been accompanied with a legal letter from Wintec's lawyers Bell Gully.

In Friday's statement, Harris said the 2015 investigation into allegations against Flowers was thorough.

"This complaint was taken seriously, dealt with through correct and proper processes and fully looked into by the Wintec council," Harris said.

"The allegations raised were thoroughly and independently investigated at the time. The Wintec council was satisfied with the findings of the independent investigation.

"As a result, the Wintec council retains and has full confidence in Mark Flowers, Wintec chief executive."

Harris said Wintec has spent $174,212 on a legal bill relating to Stuff questions put to Flowers, which Harris said was a legitimate and responsible way to handle the issue.

"The allegations are defamatory of Mark Flowers. It is not appropriate that the allegations be made public. We withhold any further details surrounding this on grounds of the matter being confidential, for the protection of privacy of individuals involved, and free and frank expression."