Mark Mitchell’s electorate office replied to Jevon McSkimming accuser’s emails

Friday, 21 November 2025

Police Minister Mark Mitchell has confirmed that his electorate office received 17 emails containing allegations of sexual abuse against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming in early 2024 — including one that received a reply from a staffer who is also his sister.

Mitchell has repeatedly said he was first briefed about an Independent Police Conduct Authority investigation on November 6, 2024, by then Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.

He has also maintained that the 36 complaint emails sent to him were diverted by police staff seconded to his ministerial office under a protocol set by Coster, meaning neither he nor his political advisers saw them.

But The Post can reveal that nearly half of those emails — 17 of the 36 — were sent not to his Beehive office but to Mitchell’s Whangaparāoa electorate office throughout January and February 2024.

The graphic messages, sent anonymously, came from Ms Z, a young, former police employee who had been in an extra-marital relationship with McSkimming.

At least one of those emails received a reply from Parliamentary Senior Member Support staffer Lisa Mitchell - the minister’s sister.

Ms Z’s January 15 email made allegations of serious sexual offending, and was also copied to McSkimming, Coster, an IPCA staff member and Mitchell’s ministerial office.

The following day Lisa Mitchell wrote back: “Thank you for your email to Hon Mark Mitchell.

“Please note that this email address is for matters relating to his electorate of Whangaparaoa, as the content of your email relates to one of his ministerial portfolios it will be managed by his ministerial team in the Beehive …Therefore please discontinue to use this email address for further correspondence.”

She also supplied the correct email for his Wellington office.

Some of the 17 emails, beginning January 3, 2024, were also sent to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and national news outlets.

Mitchell’s electorate office also received a forwarded email from the IPCA, dated January 10. It was a message to Ms Z explaining that an officer had been assigned her complaint and outlining the Authority’s process for handling allegations.

In a statement to The Post on Thursday, Mitchell said the emails received by his electorate office were forwarded on to Parliament.

“Of the 36 emails sent in relation to Jevon McSkimming, 17 of those emails went to my electorate office,” he said. “The correct process was followed, with those emails forwarded to the ministerial inbox for actioning. Electorate staff are not employed by Ministerial Services and do not deal with ministerial correspondence.

“The first time I was alerted to the situation regarding Jevon McSkimming and Ms Z was when the outgoing Police Commissioner briefed me on the 6th of November 2024.”

Mitchell said he called a meeting for the following day with the Public Service Commission and the Solicitor-General to bring forward his concerns.

“I am satisfied that all my team at both electorate and ministerial level have acted appropriately and diligently. No one knew at that stage there were integrity issues with the Police Executive,” he said.

Earlier this month, McSkimming pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.

A subsequent IPCA report criticised police leadership for minimising Ms Z’s claims, dismissing her as vindictive, and rushing an investigation because McSkimming was in line for promotion. Ms Z was later charged with online harassment of McSkimming and other officers.

Coster has since been placed on leave from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, while former deputy commissioner Chris de Wattignar is on leave from the Civil Aviation Authority.