Police watchdog received anonymous letter about Richard Chambers in November
Friday, 26 June 2026
The police watchdog received an anonymous letter raising concerns about Commissioner Richard Chambers in November,
One complaint involves an allegation of a sexual nature; and RNZ is reporting a second was made by a police staffer.
Chambers strongly rejects the claims and is not taking leave.
The police watchdog received an anonymous letter raising concerns about Commissioner Richard Chambers in November, days later they received a complaint and decided to investigate.
Stuff understands two police officers from the National Integrity Unit travelled to Australia to speak to a woman earlier this month, and did so again on Thursday, regarding a complaint of a sexual nature. NZME is reporting she was in a relationship with Chambers over 20 years ago.
On Friday, RNZ reported a second complaint regarding Chambers had been made by a police staffer.
A spokesperson on behalf of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) said in a statement to Stuff on Friday, the anonymous letter was received on November 21, 2025.
That is the same day Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he received a complaint about Chambers.
The IPCA then received a complaint about Chambers on December 1, 2025.
“We decided we would independently investigate both matters on 3 December 2025. We will not be making any further comment until our investigations are completed.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell declined to be interviewed on Friday, but previously told Stuff he was aware of the complaints and that they were being investigated by police and the IPCA.
Contact the reporter: catrin.owen@stuffdigital.co.nz
In an Official Information Act response, Mitchell said he had received two complaints related to Chambers - one on November 21, 2025 and another on February 1 this year.
Chambers has not responded to Stuff’s questions, with his communications advisor saying he would not be making any further comment at this point.
In an internal note to staff on Thursday, seen by Stuff, Chambers said he “strongly reject[ed] the claims that have been made”.
“I will cooperate fully with the investigation and I look forward to having the matter dealt with,” he said in the note.
“It is important to let that investigation take its course without any interference. That is what anyone would expect, including myself. I am advised it is not necessary for me to take leave at this point.”
Stuff asked the Public Service Commissioner a number of questions, including why Brian Roche decided against standing Chambers down when the investigations were underway.
“Based on the information available, the commissioner does not consider any action is required at this time. The commissioner has no further comment at this time,” a spokesperson for Roche said.
Separate historical complaint
It was revealed in April that an internal complaint was upheld against Chambers in 2012, after he breached police policy by giving a civilian police employee a pre-charge warning for their possession of cannabis.
At the time, Chambers was an Inspector and relieving as the Wellington District Commander. The employee to whom he gave the warning resigned from police shortly afterwards.
The complaint was made and upheld against Chambers in 2012, as the employee should have been charged rather than given a warning, 1News reported.
Between 1998 and 2020, six complaints were lodged against Chambers, but only the complaint relating to the cannabis warning was upheld, 1News reported in April following an Official Information Act request.
Chambers later became police commissioner in late 2024.