Katherine Rich

Former Dunedin National list MP Katherine Rich has hit back at continuing Green Party conflict of interest claims.

Green Party health spokesman Kevin Hague yesterday said he had asked the Auditor-general to investigate what he called ''serious conflicts of interest'' over Mrs Rich's roles as chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council, and member of the board of the Health Promotion Agency.

A spokesman for Mrs Rich yesterday said she would only respond through a written press release.

In that statement, she questioned whether Mr Hague understood either of her roles, and said a suggestion she had broken the law was ''defamatory''.

The Health Promotion Agency is a Crown entity established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Act.

It has a board appointed by the Minister of Health, and promotes health, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.

The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council is an industry association that represents manufacturers and suppliers behind New Zealand food, beverage, and grocery brands.

Mr Hague, the Green Party health spokesman, said he had asked the Auditor-general to investigate because Health Minister Jonathan Coleman had not.

He said the agency ran campaigns to limit the consumption of unhealthy food, tobacco, and alcohol, yet the businesses Ms Rich promoted, as head of the food and grocery council, profited from the sale of those products.

''The interests of the two are clearly in conflict and this has caused concern among health promoters and researchers for years.

''I have recently reviewed the minutes of Health Promotion Agency meetings and found Mrs Rich has never removed herself from meetings, even those where decisions were made on issues relating to tobacco, alcohol advertising, and healthy eating.

He said she was required to excuse herself from those discussions, under rules in the Crown Entities Act, ''to avoid any hint of a conflict of interest''.

Mrs Rich responded Mr Hague's move was ''just the latest phase of his opposition to my appointment, which began years ago''.

''In all the roles I hold in the community, I speak about moderation and energy balance. ''His additional comment that I have broken the law [Crown Entities Act] is wrong and defamatory.

''Regarding my Health Promotion Agency board role, I fulfil all my responsibilities on that board.

''He continues to mislead people about my governance role, and in particular the difference between having an interest and expertise and what actually is a conflict of interest.

''I adhere to the Crown Entities Act.

''I work hard to be professional in all my roles.''

-david.loughrey@odt.co.nz