Report finds no bias in EQC recruitment

12:35 pm on 15 March 2012

The Earthquake Commission (EQC) says no nepotism was involved in the recruitment of family members and personal friends by senior staff.

The commission released a review of staff recruitment processes on Thursday.

The review was carried out after it was revealed last year that family members and personal friends of senior level staff had been employed on substantial salaries by the EQC, causing accusations of favouritism and bias in its recruiting process.

EQC board chairman Michael Wintringham says the report has found the commission's processes were appropriate and that it had gone to some lengths to ensure they were fair.

Mr Wintringham says the report found that, with regard to claims of bias and nepotism, a family relationship should not favour or disfavour an applicant and employment should be on merit.

He said it concluded criticism that too few successful candidates were from Canterbury is unfounded.

While the review confirms the commission's belief that the processes were fair, Mr Wintringham says, the EQC needs to focus on regaining public confidence this year.

He says that will come down to settling the 450,000 claims made by 200,000 people.