NZDF covers up corrosive culture - Nicky Hager

The investigative journalist, Nicky Hager, says sources have detailed to him a culture of bullying, sexual violence, drinking and cover-ups in the Defence Force. Writing in North and South magazine, he says one case involves a woman who was sexually assaulted at Friday night drinks at Ohakea Air Force base. Mr Hager says the woman laid a formal complaint and when her superiors shrugged it off she went to Defence Force lawyers who eventually took the case all the way to the top. He also claims an SAS soldier who was awarded a top Defence Force honour was being considered for court martial for killing two children in Afghanistan. Nicky Hager says there is a culture within the Defence Force that they try to do the right thing, but if something goes wrong it gets covered up.