Woman who spent final days fighting her ex-boss posthumously wins case

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Photo: Tracey Richardson / NZME

A grieving mother never believed her daughter's last fight would be mired in a bitter workplace dispute.

Tracey Richardson always thought her bright and courageous daughter, who fought and endured a lifetime of health challenges, might have died fighting for a better future, rather than battling a boss over a job.

A champion for cystic fibrosis sufferers, organ transplant recipient Makena Houston died in August, just three weeks shy of her 33rd birthday. At the time, she was challenging her former employer over non-payment of wages.

"I expected her last fight to be a health battle, like advocating for a second transplant, or for medical services she was denied, but definitely not fighting people," Richardson told NZME. "She generally avoided conflict and would walk away from arguments."

This month, Houston succeeded posthumously in getting justice.

The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has ordered Auckland public relations firm Lily & Louis Limited to pay $24,287 in compensation, penalties and backpay, most of which goes to Houston's estate and a portion to the Crown.

ERA asked to continue case after Houston's death

Partway through its investigation process this year - fraught by delays linked to health challenges suffered by the PR firm's sole director and chief executive, Jacqui Ansin - employment advocate Dave Cain advised the ERA Houston had died.

He asked that the matter continue, with Richardson acting as legal personal representative and he as representative.

Richardson said, even as her daughter was on her deathbed after emergency surgery for co