The first few days after a complaint lands can shape everything that follows. Here's what to get right early - and what to avoid.
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Workplace investigations aren't criminal investigations - but the discipline behind them doesn't change. Steve looks at what 21 years as a CIB Detective actually brings to a workplace matter: following evidence over assumption, interviewing built to get an accurate account, and knowing exactly where the line sits.
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When abuse or serious misconduct is alleged at work, getting the evidence right matters more than ever. Steve Lockett explains what actually holds up under scrutiny - and when it's time to involve Police.
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The first few days after a complaint lands are often the most important - and the easiest to get wrong. Here's what should actually happen before anyone rushes to a conclusion.
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Many people assume a local investigator is safer - but independence, training, and a fair process matter more than a local address. Here's why Steve travels nationwide for every investigation.
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A practical look at how discrimination complaints are investigated in New Zealand, including patterns of treatment, comparative evidence, and what makes an investigation fair and defensible.
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A complaints process only gets tested once it's needed - by then, the gaps already show. Steve looks at what actually makes one hold up under scrutiny.
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What counts as assault under New Zealand law - and how it applies when the incident happens at work.
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The behaviours that count as workplace bullying - from obvious intimidation to subtle exclusion - and why they shouldn't go unchecked.
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Drawing on 21 years investigating sexual offending, Steve Lockett on why workplace complaints of this nature deserve independent, victim-focused investigation.
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Listening isn't passive. An investigator's take on the techniques - from encouragement cues to using silence - that lead to a fuller, more honest interview.
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Interrogation has no place in a fair investigation. Steve Lockett on why a properly conducted interview builds trust and better evidence.
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A golf tournament, six bad shots, and a lesson in why investigators should evaluate their own performance as closely as they evaluate the evidence.
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Age, impairment, fear, culture - why identifying a witness's special considerations before an interview leads to better quality evidence.
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Trust, but verify. Why keeping an open mind - without being naive - is central to how Steve Lockett approaches every interview.
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The witness saw the event, not the interviewer. Steve Lockett on why passing control to the witness leads to a fuller account.
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A season for family, moderation (mostly), and a thank you to everyone Steve has worked with this year.
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No two shots, no two interviews, are ever alike. Steve Lockett on what years of golf have taught him about investigative discipline.
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Serious allegations, reputational risk, potential bias - five situations where an external investigator is the safer, fairer choice.
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