Wellington HR is vicious. I have NEVER experienced an HR department quite like this one. They isolate an employee, launch their attack and wear them down to the brink of suicide. I have sadly watched them do this too many times to some really amazing Xero employees.
Wellington middle management is inexperienced and under-qualified in management. This is a result of nepotism within the company. Employees with far more potential and experience are turned down for promotions to allow the 'long-timers' to fill the positions. They lack real world management experience, and their immaturity prevents them from differentiating between subordination and the voicing of an opinion/idea.
In the earlier years Xero was full of positive and unbelievably smart people. However most have now resigned, been pushed out by HR, or fired. A few remain, but the majority of the Product team is made up of Juniors and Graduates with no Seniors to mentor them.