Climate scientist Jim Salinger has lost his appeal to the Employment Relations Authority over his sacking from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
Dr Salinger lost his job as one of NIWA's principal scientists in April, on the grounds of repeated unauthorised contact with the media.
His lawyer told the authority that NIWA should have gone about changing his role as media spokesperson in a more appropriate way.
However, counsel for NIWA said Dr Salinger had been economical with the truth and had decided to continue contact with the media as and when he saw fit.
The authority has ruled that NIWA's dismissal of Dr Salinger and the way it acted were what a fair and reasonable employer would have done in the circumstances.
