Chris Hipkins defends senior cop’s ‘integrity’ as police launch review into Labour candidacy

Tuesday, 9 June 2026

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says questions remain over Rakesh Naidoo’s actions as he was involved in sensitive briefings.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has initiated a review to determine whether senior cop Rakesh Naidoo shared any sensitive or confidential information during his talks with the Labour Party.

Superintendent Naidoo, who serves as the national partnerships manager for iwi and ethnic communities, was announced on Monday as number 13 on Labour's party list.

Chambers and Police Minister Mark Mitchell have both expressed disappointment over the lack of warning they received about his candidacy.

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has initiated a review into whether Labour’s top cop candidate passed on any sensitive information he may have been privy to while considering a political run.

Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo, Police national partnerships manager for iwi and ethnic communities, was confirmed on Monday as a list candidate for Labour.

Chambers and Police Minister Mark Mitchell both expressed disappointment at the lack of warning they were given about Naidoo’s candidacy, and on Tuesday Chambers confirmed Police will review if any information had been shared.

“A review will be undertaken over the period during which Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo was engaging with the Labour Party, prior to him advising NZ Police of his candidacy intentions,” Chambers said in a statement.

Chambers has expressed disappointment at the lack of warning they were given about Naidoo’s candidacy.

That review will include meetings he was involved in as a senior Police leader, the information he was privy to by virtue of his position, and whether anything was shared with any third party that should not have been shared.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins revealed the party had been in talks with Naidoo, now ranked 13th on the party list, for months but he was subject to a shortened selection period, admitting “this was done at the last minute deliberately”.

He defended Naidoo’s actions and described him as a “man of the utmost integrity”.

“I am confident he has conducted himself respectfully while remaining mindful of the political neutrality of New Zealand Police,” Hipkins said in a statement.

“He has not disclosed any sensitive police information to the Labour Party and I’m very surprised to see the Police Commissioner publicly entertaining any suggestion he has without any evidence whatsoever.

“As I indicated when we announced his candidacy, the Labour Party is committed to preserving the political neutrality of the police force and will support their decisions on how to manage Rakesh’s transition accordingly. I would, however, expect any engagement to be in good faith – not through the media.”

Chambers was informed of the intentions on Thursday last week, after Naidoo informed his supervisor.

Guidance for police on elections and political matters published in late April outlines that police at or above the rank of district commander, which Naidoo is, should directly inform the commissioner.

Chambers says questions remain over Naidoo’s actions as he was involved in sensitive briefings.

“As a senior police officer, Superintendent Naidoo was privy to sensitive information and I need to be reassured information he has been privy to through the course of his duties has been handled properly.

“If anything of concern comes out of that, it will be assessed against the Police Code of Conduct.”