‘Untenable’: Labour’s top cop candidate to be placed on leave from duty

Monday, 8 June 2026

Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo is running for Labour.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has expressed disappointment that one of his top cops didn’t tell him he was going to stand for Labour and says its “untenable” for him to continue in his current role.

Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo, the Police national partnerships manager for iwi and ethnic communities, was ranked surprisingly high in an easily winnable spot on Labour’s list earlier on Monday.

O’Connor entered Parliament in 2017, as MP for Ōhāriu, after a career as a police officer and then unionist, where he was president of the New Zealand Police Association.

In a statement Chambers said he was only informed of Naidoo’s intention to stand for Labour on Thursday afternoon, and was told on Sunday that the superintendent has accepted a list spot.

“Superintendent Naidoo has not contacted me directly on this and I am very disappointed that he did not inform me or his supervisor that he was in discussions about his candidacy at an earlier stage,” Chambers said.

Rakesh Naidoo pictured in 2021 with former Deputy Commissioner of Police Wally Haumaha, former Labour MP Paul Eagle and Labour MP Ginny Andersen

“The Police Manual requires staff who are intending to stand for public office to advise of their intentions as early as possible. That is essential to ensure conflicts of interest and work tasks can be managed so that the neutrality and impartiality of Police is not brought into question.”

Guidance for police on elections and political matters published in late April outlines that anyone seeking to run as a candidate must be placed on leave from nomination day, which is not until October 6.

However it also outlines that police employees may be put on leave earlier if their candidacy will “materially affect” their ability to perform Police duties satisfactorily or to be seen as independent.

The Police Commissioner was not impressed.

That rule includes a note saying: “Note: This underlines the importance of employees informing their District Commander or Director and Commissioner about any electoral intentions as early as they can.”

“I have not previously had any cause for concern about Superintendent Naidoo’s impartiality in his work for NZ Police. He has been a hard-working and valued staff member for many years,” Chambers said.

“However, given the nature of his role, I believe it is untenable for him to continue with his current duties and that his candidacy will affect his ability to be seen as independent.”

Chambers says he’s now in discussions as to when Naidoo will formally be placed on leave.

“As per the provisions of the Electoral Act which relate to leave arrangements for state servants standing for public office, Police is now in in discussion with Superintendent Naidoo about the period of leave he will be required to take ahead of the election.”

Naidoo jumped onto the list with a ranking of 13. That puts him above longtime MPs and former ministers such as Damien O’Connor, Phil Twyford and Priyanca Radhakrishnan.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins would not confirm how long the party had been in discussions with Naidoo about running.

“Well, I mean, he's been considering it for a while. Once he was clear that he wanted to go ahead with it, he informed the commissioner. Look, I'm very confident in the level of integrity that he has displayed through this process.”