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Joseph Johnson / Stuff
A soldier working security at a managed isolation facility in Christchurch (file photo).
Three months ago, during the August coronavirus cluster in Auckland, the Government announced that an additional 500 defense personnel would be deployed to managed quarantine and isolation facilities.
The move was intended to bolster security and credibility after scandals involving civilian security guards in New Zealand’s network of seclusion hotels, including falling asleep at work and leaking guest details on Snapchat.
But a handful of soldiers have been punished and removed from service for misconduct in hotels.
The Defense Force has confirmed three cases of alleged misconduct or irregularities in isolation hotels run since October, according to details obtained by Things under the Official Information Law.
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On 9 November at the Novotel Ellerslie isolation hotel in Auckland, a soldier handed a returnee a note that included the service member’s personal phone number.
The soldier was immediately removed from service at the hotel and returned to the unit.
They were charged under the Armed Forces Discipline Act for an unspecified crime.
About a month earlier, at the Ibis isolation hotel in Rotorua on October 26, a Defense Force staff member showed an “explicit picture” on his phone to a civilian security guard.
They were removed from duty and required to undergo remedial training as part of the Sexual Ethics and Respectful Relationships module of Operation Respect.
However, they were not charged under the Armed Forces Discipline Act.
The Defense Force established Operation Respect in 2016, with the aim of reducing sexual harassment and harmful sexual behavior after an investigation showed “persistent sexism.”
Also in Rotorua, at the Rydges Isolation Hotel, a member of the Defense Forces staff was charged with “antisocial behavior towards civilian security guards” on 22 October.
That accusation was confirmed and the person was removed from his duties.
They faced no charges under the Armed Forces Discipline Act, but the service member was deemed unfit to participate in Operation Proteger, the Defense Forces’ contribution to the government’s response to Covid-19.
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The Defense Force dismissed allegations of an alleged assault at the Sudima Hotel in August and a manager of a managed isolation facility threatening a returnee and treating him unfairly.
