Nash would have told PM about comments

WELLINGTON: Police Minister Stuart Nash says he would have done things differently if he had known about comments Wally Haumaha had made in Operation Austin before he recommended his appointment as deputy police commissioner.

Mr Nash also said police commissioner Mike Bush, who was on the interview panel for the job, had not been aware of the controversial comments his deputy had made during the 2004 investigation.

However, Mr Nash also downplayed the prospect of Mr Haumaha losing his job as a consequence of an inquiry into the appointment.

‘‘Noone is talking about Wally getting [sacked] ,’’ Mr Nash told Newstalk ZB yesterday.

‘‘What we are talking about is ‘let’s have a look and see if the proper process was followed’.

‘‘What I would have done is done this a little bit differently.’’

He would have undertaken some due diligence himself, by having discussions with key people.

‘‘The first person I would have called was the Prime Minister and said ‘Prime Minister, this is something that must be considered by keeping in mind’.’’

An inquiry into the appointment of Mr Haumaha in May will be conducted after it was reported last week that Louise Nicholas was furious about his appointment because of the complimentary comment he made about the men she accused of raping her.

She knew about the comments because she has had access to the files into the investigation, and she demanded a meeting with both Mr Bush and Mr Haumaha after the May promotion.

In comments to investigating officers, Mr Haumaha called his former colleagues Brad Shipton a ‘‘big softie’’ and Bob Schollum a ‘‘legend’’ with women.

Another officer told investigators Mr Haumaha had described Ms Nicholas’ allegations as ‘‘a nonsense’’.

Both men were found not guilty of the rape of Ms Nicholas but it was revealed after the trial they were already serving prison sentences for the rape in 1989 of a woman in Mt Maunganui.

That woman has called for Mr Haumaha to resign over his comments, despite him offering an unreserved apology last week and saying they do not reflect his values today.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters announced the inquiry which, he said, would look at whether the appointment panel and Cabinet got all relevant information.

Mr Nash said: ‘‘I’ve been told that the commissioner was not aware of Wally’s comments at the time.’’

Mr Nash also said the issue was what level of due diligence could be reasonably expected of the State Services Commission, which led the appointment process. — NZME