Claims of sex toys on fishing trip trigger Wintec investigation | Stuff ...

Wintec has now concluded its investigation into what the institution describes as "serious misconduct" by staff. (file photo).

A bawdy fishing trip allegedly involving Wintec staff members and sex toys as prizes triggered a high-level investigation ​by the tertiary institution.

Wintec said on Friday it was made aware of an incident, "which in our view, involved serious misconduct by some Wintec staff", after the trip in May. 

Its management obtained video footage of the fishing trip in Coromandel, and it triggered an investigation headed by a solicitor. 

It is alleged one of the women on the trip bought vibrators and sex dolls for the event. She allegedly gave them to one of the organisers to give out as spot prizes for the fishing trip.

The claims come as Wintec confirmed on Friday a  new probe had been launched into the conduct of its chief executive, Mark Flowers. 

Flowers is on extended sick leave and isn't due back until mid-October. 

It's understood 13 Wintec staff members attended the annual fishing trip, organised by members of the trades department. Three female staff participated in the trip.

In an email, Wintec spokeswoman Erin Andersen said no alcohol for the fishing trip was provided by the institute's management. 

Wintec's acting chief executive David Christiansen said in a written statement the outcomes of the investigation were confidential. 

"Wintec took this matter extremely seriously and acted quickly and robustly, undertaking an immediate investigation into the incident," he said.

It was managed as an employment relations matter. 

"Wintec is extremely disappointed this incident occurred and has no tolerance for behaviours which demonstrate serious misconduct," Christiansen said.

"We are unable to comment further on employment relations matters."

A Wintec source said they didn't believe the footage contained nudity and thought the reaction from management was over the top.  

The source questioned the amount spent on a now four-month investigation into the trip.