A former Lotto presenter, who remained suspended on full pay from his Ministry of Justice role after being charged with money laundering, was also paid to appear in a Health New Zealand promotional campaign, according to newly released documents.
According to a report by Stuff, Russell Harrison, who was arrested in 2021 following a global FBI-led operation targeting organised crime, received at least $3,000 for participating in a 2023 Health NZ campaign promoting childhood immunisation. The payment was made while he was suspended from his government position and awaiting the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Last month, it was revealed that Harrison continued to receive his taxpayer-funded Ministry of Justice salary for five years after being charged. The disclosure prompted criticism from senior government leaders.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the situation as "utterly unbelievable and also unacceptable", while Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said he was "shocked" and had requested an explanation from ministry officials, as quoted by Stuff.
Harrison admitted to a money laundering charge after delivering six gold bullion bars to the Comancheros gang's self-described "International Commander" in Turkey. Court documents state the gold was purchased using proceeds from drug offending. He is due to be sentenced next month, Stuff has reported.
Documents released under the Official Information Act show Harrison appeared in Health NZ's childhood immunisation campaign, filmed in March 2023 and released the following month. His role was listed as "Koro in umbrella scene", with provisions allowing for additional payments if the campaign continued beyond its initial use, as reported by Stuff.
The contract included a declaration requiring performers to have no criminal convictions or pending charges. It stated: "no current, past pr (sic) pending criminal convictions. A criminal declaration form may be required while MOJ checks are underway".
Under the campaign's special conditions, the agreement further stated: “Talent from the age of 18 understands that they will be run through a background criminal check through the Ministry of Justice but in the interests of time, agree to also complete a talent declaration form which states that they have no criminal convictions; past, current or pending,” as quoted by Stuff.
Health New Zealand previously said the campaign was managed by an external agency.
A spokesperson said, “We have been assured that the agency went through the usual MoJ criminal checks as part of its talent recruitment for this campaign,” as quoted by Stuff.
The spokesperson added, “Health NZ had no awareness at the time of the investigation into Mr Harrison, given he had name suppression,” Stuff has quoted.
Court records previously revealed Harrison argued that his income during the legal proceedings came only from government benefits and occasional entertainment work while seeking continued name suppression. The Court of Appeal later granted suppression after Harrison argued it would help preserve his reputation and ability to continue working in the entertainment industry.
The Ministry of Justice has defended its handling of Harrison's employment, saying it acted in accordance with employment law throughout the legal process.
Secretary for Justice Andrew Kibblewhite said, “However, the ministry has acted consistent with our employment law obligations,” Stuff has quoted.
He added, “We are considering whether there are any ways that we can approach cases like this differently in the future and will provide advice to the Minister of Justice in due course on this.”
The ministry's Acting Chief Operating Officer, Andrea King, said Harrison had successfully completed criminal vetting before being employed in June 2021.
King explained, “He was arrested and charged later that month and, once the Ministry became aware, he was immediately suspended from his role, pending the outcome of his court case.”
She said, “From that point on, Mr Harrison was not permitted to work in his role. But because he was in [the eyes of the] law innocent until proven guilty, a decision about whether to terminate his employment needed to wait until the outcome of the charge was clear,” Stuff has quoted.
According to Stuff, Harrison was among hundreds arrested during Operation Trojan Shield, an international FBI-led investigation that dismantled organised crime networks using the encrypted communications platform AN0M. New Zealand authorities alleged the operation uncovered a major methamphetamine importation network linked to the Comancheros gang.
According to court documents, Harrison collected $420,000 in cash from an Auckland cemetery in July 2019 before purchasing six gold bullion bars worth $416,000. He later travelled to Turkey carrying the gold, where investigators say he delivered it to associates connected to Comancheros leader Duax Ngakuru, as reported by Stuff.
Harrison has maintained that he became involved after being approached by someone he trusted and claimed his actions were the result of naivety and recklessness. He is expected to be sentenced next month.