Photo: Facebook / Marisa Paterson, RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Auckland University of Technology has unreservedly apologised to a former academic for its bungled response to her sexual harassment complaint about a former staff member.
Dr Marisa Paterson was director of Australian National University's Centre for Gambling Research in 2020 when she publicly accused problem gambling expert, Professor Max Abbott, of stalking and harassing her.
Now an Australian MP, Dr Paterson said in a statement that in addition to the sexual harassment, there was significant harm for her as an individual to have to fight an institution, in public, for an adequate response.
She says the apology is public recognition of that. Her complaint had earlier prompted an independent review by Kate Davenport QC, in which 273 people reported being bullied or had seen it happen in the AUT workplace.
Kathryn speaks to Dr Marisa Paterson from Canberra, and Michael Timmins, the Director of the Office of Human Rights Proceedings.
