Judith Collins and Barry Matthews have known each other for more than 25 years, from when they went to law school together at the University of Auckland.
Ms Collins cited this relationship as one reason she would have "a good working relationship" with her departmental chief executive,when interviewed by the Herald upon becoming Minister of Corrections three months ago.
"I've known him for a long time. I know he did a very good job of the police in Western Australia but he seemed to get on the wrong side of the politics there," she said at the time.
Ms Collins said they met in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
Asked if they were friends, Ms Collins said she had not seen Mr Matthews for a few years and they did not socialise together, but added there was no animosity.
"I think Barry and I should have a good working relationship, and I hope so, because I don't want to be somebody who comes fresh into the job and thinks I know more than everybody else who has been there a long time.
"I want to treat both the Commissioner of Police [Howard Broad] and Barry Matthews as the chief executive of Corrections in a very professional way."
