Minister’s links to under-fire cop

Police Minister Stuart Nash says he isn’t mates with under-fire cop Wally Haumaha but admits to referring to him in a jokey gym video.

Haumaha was appointed deputy commissioner of police in May by the Governor-General, after being recommended by the State Services Commission. Nash and Cabinet signed off on that decision.

That decision is now the subject of an inquiry after it emerged Haumaha had defended several police friends who Louise Nicholas accused of pack-raping iher in the 1980s.

It has emerged that Nash had enough of a personal relationship with Haumaha to call him out in a jovial video he posted of himself working out in the Parliament gym.

The April 25 video, posted to Nash’s Facebook page, is captioned: ‘‘Peeni Henare, Wally and Alf – just calling those out who doubted... all in the name of trying to keep the ageing body in some sort of shape. Hard work on a parliamentary diet :-)’’.

At Question Time yesterday, National’s police spokesman Chris Bishop got Nash to confirm that the ‘‘Wally’’ Nash was referring to in the caption was in fact Haumaha.

When asked if he had a personal relationship with him, Nash said he did not lift weights with the senior police officer.

‘‘Mr Haumaha goes to the gym a lot, and every now and then we have meetings and joke about it,’’ he said.

‘‘Have I ever gone out for a beer with him? No.’’

Nash has maintained he was not aware of Haumaha’s comments about the Nicholas case.

The inquiry is focused on why exactly that information was not made available to the State Services Commission.

In a press release accompanying the initial appointment, Nash lauded Haumaha for his ‘‘clear vision and leadership skills’’.

‘‘Wally Haumaha is a highly respected leader across our communities.’’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was in Porirua, announcing a new mental health facility, when she was informed of the apparent ‘‘matey’’ relationship between her police minister and Haumaha.

She said she was frustrated at such details being ‘‘drip fed’’ through the media.

She said she did not know how close they were, or whether their relationship could even be described as ‘‘friends’’.

‘‘Wally Haumaha is a highly respected leader across our communities.’’ Minister of Police Stuart Nash

MARTIN DE RUYTER/ STUFF Dayveen Stephens leads, from left, police assistant commissioner Wally Haumaha, police commissioner Mike Bush, Minister of Police Stuart Nash, inspector Ian McKenzie, of Nelson police, carrying Te Pae Oranga, and Wayne Panpa on to Whakatu Marae.