Leaked Roy notes describe Act leader as abusive bully

Heather Roy
Heather Roy
Rodney Hide was an abusive, intimidating bully who tried for months to discredit Heather Roy into quitting as deputy leader, according to statements she made in a confidential document.

The 82 pages of leaked material outline her defence against caucus concerns about her behaviour, and attack Mr Hide's leadership in a bid to save her deputy leadership.

They paint a picture of a fractured party and of an insecure leader who moved to demote Mrs Roy without just cause.

Mrs Roy released a statement yesterday saying she only referred to some of the material at the meeting and it was not distributed to caucus members.

Mr Hide said last night he had not read the material.

In the notes, Mrs Roy pleaded with her colleagues to keep the status quo and seek help to regain a team spirit.

"I am a competent minister. I have not embarrassed Act."

But she was displaced as deputy leader by John Boscawen and stripped of her ministerial portfolios of consumer affairs, associate defence and associate education.

At a meeting on August 3, Mr Hide said Mrs Roy was a poor performer as a minister and also as the party's deputy leader. Mrs Roy was not at the meeting.

At an emergency meeting two days later, when Mr Boscawen gave notice of his challenge, Mr Hide outlined allegations against Mrs Roy, including "grave concerns" about her behaviour and stating Act positions without consultation with the leader, caucus or board. Mrs Roy had also made complaints about not wanting to meet Mr Hide and concerning a breach of security.

Based on these, Mrs Roy was expected to face a censure motion at Monday's meeting, but this was dropped because it was considered a challenge to the deputy leadership was sufficient.

But Mrs Roy decided to rebut the concerns at Tuesday's meeting. Her notes say she had been the victim of "Rodney's vendetta" and that, since last November, Mr Hide "has been determined to discredit me".

"I have received many reports of his agenda being to humiliate and discredit me so as to have grounds to place me well down the party list at the next list-selection meeting."

She said she was scared of meeting Mr Hide alone, and wanted to bring another person with her.

"He routinely tries to bully and intimidate me and this is not conducive to a good working relationship."

Mr Hide said last night he did not share that impression of their meetings.

 

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