The national champion is, in effect, a shy little swamp goblin with survival instincts and a strong preference for staying out of sight. This makes it a relatable icon. New Zealand is emotionally vulnerable to any small, weird battler that sounds underappreciated and slightly damp.
Not interviewing the complainant is the most fundamental investigative failure that there is. Not only that, but not a single one of the police officers who arrested me and lied about me was interviewed either. If I made errors of this magnitude at work I would lose my job.