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The University of Auckland has been ordered to pay scientist Siouxsie Wiles $205,059.94.
The payout - revealed in an Employment Court decision on Wednesday - is towards Wiles' legal costs, after a three week hearing in the Employment Court last year.
In that case, the court found the university breached its contractual obligations to protect Wiles as harassment against her intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it did not find the university had breached Wiles' academic freedom, or claims related to Te Tiriti.
In her decision on Wednesday, Judge Joanna Holden said the parties were encouraged to agree to costs, but due to the university's response Wiles found it necessary to return to court.
Wiles had said she spent $349,450.67 to fight her case last year but would accept $175,000 from the university towards costs.
"The University's response was that it considered it was entitled to claim significant costs from Associate Professor Wiles … which would likely be in excess of $500,000 plus GST. It initially offered, on a without prejudice save as to costs basis, to settle costs on the basis that they lay where they fell, but later offered $65,000 (plus GST) as a contribution to Associate Professor Wiles's costs."
The key issue appeared to be whether Wiles won her case last year or not. She claimed she had been the successful party. The university said there had been 'no winning party' last year, and that Wiles conduct of her case had increased costs.
Judge Holden agree that there was significant time and effort spent on the issues of academic freedom and Te Tiriti at the hearing last year, which would have contributed to the $349,450.67 Wiles spent.
However, on balance, the judge was satisfied that the starting costs figure of $176,182.30 was a fair one for costs in the circumstances of the case.
In the end, Judge Holden awarded $180,582.30 for costs and $24,477.64 for disbursements.
