‘He was mates with these guys’
LOUISE NICHOLAS FURIOUS OVER NEW TOP COP
New deputy police commissioner Wally Haumaha questioned why Louise Nicholas publicly accused his friends in the police of raping her in the 1980s and continued to support them after the scandal broke, according to interviews with fellow officers.
One officer told the 2004 Operation Austin investigation into the police sex allegations that Haumaha — who was appointed to the senior role by Police Minister Stuart Nash last month — described Nicholas’ allegations as “a nonsense” and that “nothing really happened and we have to stick together”.
Nicholas, who now works with the police advising new recruits and supporting victims of abuse, was so angry to hear of Haumaha’s appointment that she demanded a meeting with him and Police Commissioner Mike Bush to voice her opposition.
“I didn’t hold back. I said ‘I’ve read your statement Wally and I know what you said. You put it out there about how wonderful these men were’,” said Nicholas.
Last night, Bush said Haumaha was a highly respected leader who “deeply regrets” the comments he made during Operation Austin.
Bush said Haumaha had no contact with his former colleagues who were charged in relation to Nicholas’ allegations since the investigation.
“Mr Haumaha recognises that the culture in the police at that time was unacceptable,” said Bush.
“He has since been a relentless [advocate of] the widespread change in police culture and leadership.”
Haumaha was close friends with Clint Rickards, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum when they worked together at the Rotorua police station in the 1980s and 1990s.
He remained friends with them after they left the station and telephoned Rickards — who was by then the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Auckland — shortly after Nicholas publicly alleged in 2004 the trio raped her in group sex sessions.
Her allegations — including being violated with a police baton — triggered an
extensive police investigation, Operation Austin, and a Commission of Inquiry into the culture of the police and how sexual assault cases were investigated.
Rickards, Shipton and Schollum claimed the group sex with Nicholas was consensual and were found not guilty at the 2006 trial. The jury was unaware Shipton and Schollum were already in prison on other rape charges laid by Operation Austin.
“Your arrogance, in my view, knew no bounds,” Justice Ronald Young told Shipton and Schollum in sending them to prison.
Operation Austin and the Commission of Inquiry, led by Dame Margaret Bazley, exposed sleazy elements of police culture and led to widespread changes in the force.
Detectives interviewed colleagues of the trio in January 2004.
Haumaha was a Senior Sergeant in Rotorua when interviewed about the culture of the station in the 1980s.
“The culture of the police back in the mid-80s was work hard and play hard,” he said in a statement to the Operation Austin investigation.
Haumaha described Schollum as a good friend, a dynamic leader and a “legend in his own right”.
“It was no secret that Bob was attractive to a lot of women . . . the legend was that he was never short of a girlfriend or female company.”
Haumaha also spoke highly of Rickards and Shipton, who was an “awesome cop”.
Shipton never mentioned anything about group sex, Louise Nicholas or a baton, Haumaha told Detective Sergeant John Price, now the Superintendent in charge of the Canterbury district.
“I feel that people got the wrong impression of Brad. He was a [softie].”
Haumaha told Price that he called Rickards as soon as the Nicholas allegations were published and his friend adamantly denied them.
And, according to the statement of another Rotorua police officer, Haumaha himself believed the allegations were “nonsense”.
Lynton “Knocker” Dean said he met with Haumaha in February 2004.
I had seen Wally around in Rotorua. Clearly he ran with this crowd. Louise Nicholas
Haumaha, according to Dean’s statement, raised the Nicholas allegations and said “how much of a nonsense it was and how could anyone come out and drag it all up”.
“He also said something along the lines . . . nothing really happened and we have to stick together,” Dean told Detective Sergeant Grant Johnstone.
Speaking last night from his home in Rarotonga, Dean said: “I stand by my statement 100 per cent”.
“Wally was mates with those guys, he put them on a pedestal,” said Dean.
Since that time, Haumaha has risen through the ranks and this month replaced Viv Rickard as the deputy commissioner, a statutory role for a five-year period.
Nash lauded his “clear vision and leadership skills”. “I expect him to play a key role to strengthen Ma¯ori leadership within Police and enhance the relationship between Police and Ma¯ori communities.”
Louise Nicholas acknowledged what Haumaha had achieved but pointed to his statement to Operation Austin as evidence of a poor attitude towards women.
“I had seen Wally around in Rotorua. Clearly he ran with this crowd,” said Nicholas.
“I’m not saying he did anything wrong, I don’t know. But I’ve never been comfortable standing in the same room with Wally because he was mates with these guys.”
At a chance meeting at a Police College event in the last year or so, Nicholas said she declined an offer from Haumaha to have a “coffee and put water under the bridge”.
But when he was appointed to the deputy role, Nicholas said she “hit the roof” and asked for the meeting with Bush and Haumaha.
She also insisted Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement, who was a senior member of the Operation Austin team, be present.
She was reluctant about speaking publicly for fear of being branded racist; an attack levelled at her by supporters of Rickards at the time of her original allegations.
“I’m not doing this to be a vindictive bitch. The police have worked hard to change their culture over the last 10 years or so,” said Nicholas.
“But without the right leadership, without the right attitude towards women, they can tumble backwards”.
The Herald left a message on Haumaha’s phone yesterday, which was responded to by a senior police media adviser.
Later, in a statement, Bush confirmed Haumaha met with Nicholas to “assure her he remains committed to continuing the work the organisation has done as a result of the Commission of Inquiry to improve our culture and our service to victims of sexual assault”.
“He highly values the relationship [NZ Police] has with Louise Nicholas.
“He emphasises our values of empathy, diversity at every opportunity both with staff and the public.
“He has been recognised several times for this work including a QSM and ONZM.”