Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has resigned from his role as the chief executive of the Social Investment Agency.
It follows a damning Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report into the way police handled complaints against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, published last month. Coster has been on leave since the report was published.
In a statement, Coster said his decision to resign was a result of his “acceptance of full responsibility for the shortcomings identified in the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s review of the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming during my tenure as Commissioner of Police”.
“I regret the impact on the young woman at the centre of this matter and sincerely apologise to her for the distress caused.
“I accept that I was too ready to trust and accept at face value Deputy Commissioner McSkimming’s disclosure and explanations to me. I should have been faster and more thorough in looking into the matter.
“I acknowledge that I should have more fully investigated the allegations when they were brought to my attention, rather than assuming that their previous disclosure to senior Police staff a few years earlier would have resulted in an investigation if necessary.
“It is clear that Police’s handling of the whole matter was lacking and that I was ultimately responsible for those matters.
“It was sobering to read of a number of missed opportunities which should have proceeded differently and more appropriately.”
In a statement this afternoon, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, Coster’s employer, said he respected Coster’s decision.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Roche said.
Roche said he acknowledged the IPCA report “found no evidence of corruption or cover-up when undertaking their review”.
“While the IPCA found serious leadership failures occurred, there was no evidence of senior officers consciously doing the wrong thing or setting out to undermine the integrity of the organisation.
“What is clear, however, is that there was significant evidence of failures within the organisation that Mr Coster was then accountable for. Systems, processes, delegations and behaviours that you would expect to be embedded were not followed.
“Mr Coster acknowledges with hindsight that he should have and could have done better, and as evidenced by his decision, has taken accountability.”
Earlier this week, Roche appeared before the select committee and confirmed Coster was being paid about $1500 a day while on leave.
“I think so,” Roche told Newstalk ZB when asked whether Coster was still being paid $1500 a day since going on leave three weeks ago.
Last month, when the IPCA report was released, Public Service Minister Judith Collins said that had a report made similar findings about her own leadership, she would be “ashamed” of herself.
The minister in charge of the agency, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis, said she read the report on Sunday and was “shocked and appalled by its findings”.
“I have conveyed my views to Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche. The matter now sits with him as Mr Coster’s employer.”
Collins, along with Police Minister Mark Mitchell and new Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, fronted media on Tuesday evening after suppression lapsed on damning details on how police botched whistleblower complaints against McSkimming.
Mitchell echoed Collins’ criticism, saying Coster “should be held to account” for what had been uncovered.
The lifting of suppression was accompanied by the release of a report from the IPCA that found the highest levels of police ignored complaints against McSkimming.
The allegations were made by a woman, with whom McSkimming had an affair, over a number of years.
McSkimming maintained the sexual relationship was consensual and the email allegations were motivated by revenge to destroy his career.
Senior police did not investigate the allegations, which continued as McSkimming sought the role of Police Commissioner, the most senior role at police. The IPCA report noted the former police executive prioritised McSkimming’s ambitions in the force above investigating the complaints.
The young complainant was never contacted, or asked whether she wanted to make a formal complaint. Instead, McSkimming lodged a complaint under the Harmful Digital Communications Act against the woman and she was arrested in July 2024.
Chambers said the report was “thorough and convincing” and set out “troubling departures” from proper protocols for investigating complaints.
“There was interference from the highest levels,” Chambers said.
He said what the report revealed had “angered him” and shown a failure of leadership.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the failings of police were “inexcusable” and “a complete failure of duty”.
The Government has announced changes to create an Inspector-General of Police along the lines of the Inspector-General of Defence to provide greater accountability. Hipkins said Labour would support those changes.
Much of the period covered in the IPCA report covered the period of the last Labour Government.
“Nothing was ever raised about any of this during my time as Police Minister or Prime Minister, or during the vetting process for the Deputy Commissioner role, and if it had, he would never have been appointed and further action would have been taken,” Hipkins said.
“I am extremely disappointed in police leadership.”