Does It Matter Where Your Workplace Investigator Is Based?

One question we hear often from HR managers and business owners is whether it matters that their investigator isn't based locally. It's a fair question - when you're dealing with something as sensitive as a bullying, harassment, or misconduct complaint, it feels natural to want someone nearby. But when it comes to independent workplace investigations, location matters a lot less than people expect, and in some ways, bringing in someone from outside your region works in your favour. 

Why “local” feels safer 

There's a natural instinct to look for someone close by - easier to meet in person, more familiar, maybe even someone a colleague has used before. For most services, that instinct makes sense. 

Workplace investigations are a bit different. The whole point of bringing in an external investigator is impartiality - someone with no ties to your organisation, your industry contacts, or the people involved. That's often easier to guarantee with someone from outside your immediate area, not harder. 

What actually matters more than location 

When you're choosing who to trust with a bullying, harassment, discrimination, misconduct, or assault investigation, a few things matter far more than a local address: 

• Independence - no personal or professional ties to anyone involved 

• Relevant investigative training and licensing - not just an HR background, but formal interviewing and evidence-gathering experience 

• A process that can withstand scrutiny if the outcome is ever challenged 

• Someone who will actually turn up and conduct interviews in person, not manage it remotely from a distance 

I'm a licensed private investigator, spent 30 years in NZ Police - 21 of those as a CIB Detective - and I'm AWI-CH certified through the Association of Workplace Investigators. None of that depends on which city I happen to be sitting in. 

Where I actually work 

I'm available to travel anywhere in New Zealand for an investigation - including Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and the wider Bay of Plenty. In practice, that means I turn up and run the same process wherever I'm needed. Face-to-face interviews are my strong preference, though they can be conducted remotely if required and circumstances dictate. 

If you're weighing up local vs external 

If you're currently looking for a workplace investigator in your own city, it's worth reframing the question slightly - not “who's closest,” but “who can run this fairly, credibly, and independently.” Most of the time, that person doesn't need to already know your town. They just need to be willing to get on a plane. 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Do I need to hire a workplace investigator based in my own city?

  No. What matters more is independence, relevant training, and a process that can withstand scrutiny - not physical proximity. An investigator who travels regularly can run the same fair, in-person process anywhere in the country. 

• Does Karapiti travel nationwide for investigations?

  Yes. Steve is available to travel nationwide for every investigation - including Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and the wider Bay of Plenty - meeting clients and conducting interviews in person wherever it's needed, with remote interviews available if circumstances require it. 

• Why does it matter that an investigator has no local ties?

  Independence is the core reason to bring in an external investigator in the first place. Someone with no personal or professional connection to your organisation or the people involved is better placed to reach a fair, defensible outcome.