Cabinet to consider police inquiry terms
The Government will discuss how to proceed with the inquiry into the appointment of police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha.
Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters called for an inquiry into Haumaha’s appointment following concerns raised by victims’ rights advocate Louise Nicholas.
Nicholas says she went to police top brass with concerns about Haumaha, over his relationship with the former officers she accused of raping her, back when he was being considered for an assistant police commissioner role.
State Services Minister Chris Hipkins said Cabinet would discuss the inquiry, and how to address the situation if any concerns were subsequently raised.
Cabinet members would determine the terms of reference and details of the inquiry.
It was important Haumaha was treated fairly, as he was already in the role, Hipkins said.
‘‘There is need for the public to have reassurance that the process that was followed was robust.’’
Hipkins did not want to get ahead of the Cabinet discussion but said it was important to step through the inquiry process carefully.
Nicholas has worked alongside police for years to clean up its culture. On Friday, she said she was disappointed to learn her words had fallen on deaf ears when Haumaha was promoted even further, to deputy police commissioner, back in May.
‘‘I was angry – I hit the roof. An ugly beast was ready to rise . . . and that is what has happened.’’
Police Operation Austin began in 2004 after Nicholas made allegations against former assistant commissioner Clint Rickards and former officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum. They claimed the sex was consensual and were found not guilty at a trial in 2006.
The jury was unaware Shipton and Schollum were already in jail on other rape charges.
After seeing statements from other officers held in the Operation Austin case file, Nicholas said it was clear Haumaha had tried to block the investigation and dismissed her allegations ‘‘as just absolute nonsense’’.
Haumaha had claimed that his close friends, whom he had worked with in Rotorua, were good men who he had stood by after the scandal broke, she said.
Haumaha declined to be interviewed on Friday but in a statement he acknowledged Nicholas’ concerns, and said his comments did not reflect his view or the values he now brought to the job.
‘‘It is important to say outright that I take responsibility for those comments, I deeply regret them, and I unreservedly apologise for the hurt and concern they have caused,’’ he said.
Police Minister Stuart Nash said Haumaha’s comments were deeply disappointing and unacceptable.
‘‘I give a commitment to Louise Nicholas that police will not take the foot off the accelerator in regards to ongoing efforts to improve their response to victims of offending.’’