Source: Radio New Zealand
Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. RNZ / REECE BAKER
Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster does not know if he’s “free to comment” on a scathing report by the police watchdog, a spokesperson for him says.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police, including Coster, in relation to police’s response to allegations of sexual offending by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
Coster was placed on leave from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, following the report released on Tuesday.
RNZ called and texted Coster on Wednesday and received a text with an email to contact for comment.
RNZ asked for comment on Coster’s actions, whether he would stay in his role at the SIA, and whether he had a message for the woman who raised the allegations.
- Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz
A spokesperson then replied: “As has been publicly noted by ministers, this is now an employment conversation between the Public Service Commissioner and Andrew Coster. He will not be responding to media ahead of that process.”
RNZ approached Coster’s spokesperson again on Friday asking for comment on the IPCA’s reports and his actions as the former Police Commissioner.
“Unfortunately, Andrew is not in a position to comment on any of these issues while there is a process underway with the Public Service Commissioner,” the spokesperson replied.
Asked why, and whether Coster was intending on returning to work, the spokesperson replied: “It is not presently clear whether Andrew is free to comment, given his role as a public servant and the process in which he is engaged. He will not be commenting further while this is underway.”
Coster took on the role as Secretary for Social Investment in November 2024, after stepping down as Police Commissioner.
Public Service Minister Judith Collins earlier said it was agreed between Coster and the Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche that Coster would be on leave while Sir Brian undertook his own “investigation”.
She said the report showed a “massive” failure of leadership, and while it was now an employment matter, she said the report spoke for itself.
“If this was me being named in this report, I would be ashamed of myself. And I think that’s what I can say. I would be deeply ashamed.”
Collins said the findings that leadership attempted to influence the investigation into the woman’s complaint and persuade the IPCA that the matter could be resolved quickly were “very serious”.
“Let’s put it this way. If a minister tried to do that, I’m sure that the Prime Minister would have them out the door that way.”
Asked whether she thought it amounted to corruption, Collins said, “If it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it’s not looking good, is it?”
While acknowledging the IPCA report did not say it was corruption, Collins said it was “an extraordinary set of events, and extraordinary facts, and it must never happen again”.
She expressed thanks for the people who did stand up and send the matter to the IPCA as a complaint.
A spokesperson for the Public Service Commissioner earlier said it would be inappropriate to comment on any employment matters.
Social investment minister Nicola Willis said she was “shocked and appalled” by the IPCA report’s findings.
“I have conveyed my views to Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche. The matter now sits with him as Mr Coster’s employer,” she said.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said Coster first briefed him on 6 November 2024 about McSkimming.
“The issues around Andrew Coster, we all now clearly see in that report that yes, without a doubt, he was the leader of the executive. He should be held to account for that, because of what we’re dealing with.”
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
