Former Sir Rod Drury employee speaks despite confidential settlement | Stuff.co.nz

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]A recent former employee of Sir Rod Drury has spoken out despite a confidential employment settlement to claim he repeatedly kissed her on the lips when she worked for him describing the contact as unwanted. Chef Megan Ruddle worked for Sir Rod first on his yacht and then at his Queenstown property.

[00:00:19]Her account follows claims from two former Zero employees who have also alleged unwanted sexual contact. Sir Rod says Ruddle's claims are unfounded and part of sustained media campaign and that he will make contact with police in relation to the allegations.

[00:00:36]Investigations journalist Paula Penfold reports.

[00:00:39]Megan Ruddle worked for Drury for nearly 3 years until September last year first on his luxury catamaran and then at his Queenstown meeting house venue for summits such as this prime ministerial one last August. Your role was what exactly? So my official title was director of residence and wellness at Tatameia.

[00:01:00]Um so I managed I was just managed all of the staff from the interior of the property.

[00:01:06]Um you know cleaners and whoever and run run dinner parties that he had privately inside his home.

[00:01:14]>> How closely would you work with him? I would work very closely with him.

[00:01:18]Whenever he would greet me he would kiss me on the lips even when I would try to avoid it. She didn't count the number of occasions but estimates dozens. How many occasions would you estimate that happened to you?

[00:01:32]I really don't know how many times because it was on and off over over 2 years and I greeted him a lot of times so I I would say it would easily over 50 times. Do you mind explaining for me Megan what it's like when somebody who employs you but also provides your housing and your vehicle is kissing you on the lips? Where does that leave you? I felt violated.

[00:01:59]I felt like I was in a position where yeah all my eggs were in one basket and if I said or did anything that he knew that he was invading my personal space and my my my human rights.

[00:02:19]I've never had a man in my life let alone them being an employer who would just take a kiss from me.

[00:02:27]Mhm. So yeah it it bothered me. It was obvious it bothered me but it didn't deter him from continuing to do it. What makes you say he knew and that it was obvious? Well like I said I would try to move my head to the side and kiss on both cheeks like in Spain and his face would follow my face so I would never kiss back. I would be tense and rigid. It was I didn't I guess it felt like he knew he was getting satisfaction out of being able to do something despite knowing that it made me feel very uncomfortable.

[00:03:04]Former coworkers and others have confirmed to staff that they witnessed Drury kissing Ruddle on the lips on multiple occasions. One described it as distasteful and inappropriate. Ruddle made an employment complaint a personal grievance claiming unjustifiable dismissal and sexual harassment against Drury and his company. Neither made any admission of liability but she did receive a settlement and signed a confidentiality agreement. In a statement Drury said the settlement was because proper employment processes were not duly followed. While the documents record she resigned he said Ruddle was dismissed and the following day she raised these unfounded allegations. He said at no time was there any form of intimate or physical relationship nor did he ever try to initiate one. Drury said he will be making contact with police in relation to the allegations.

[00:03:59]Ruddle's complaint follows those of two others employees when Drury was the CEO of Zero both claiming he initiated unwanted sexual contact which Drury denies saying any relationships were consensual. Ruddle says she's speaking publicly in spite of the confidentiality agreement after seeing Drury knighted and then awarded New Zealander of the year. He doesn't deserve the accolades he's got. He doesn't deserve New Zealand to think he's New Zealander of the year like that. You know I've got a lot to lose here.

[00:04:33]Um I'm terrified.

[00:04:37]But at the same time um going through this experience has shown me that money is not everything and that um the way that you treat people really is what matters and I want to stand up and say my part.