Wider inquiry into Jevon McSkimming saga not needed ‒ Christopher Luxon

Monday, 8 December 2025

A deeper inquiry into the Jevon McSkimming scandal appears to be off the table, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saying it is not needed as he knows what the outcome would be.

It comes as questions were raised over the weekend following an interview with former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, just days after he resigned from his top role at the Social Investment Agency.

Coster claimed he told Labour leader Chris Hipkins about disgraced former deputy commissioner McSkimming’s affair in 2023 and alleged Police Minister Mark Mitchell knew about the complaints sooner than he let on. Hipkins denied this and Mitchell said Coster’s recollection was wrong.

If a high level of inquiry was needed to clear up the competing claims, Christopher Luxon on Monday said no.

“The IPCA report is very, very straight, very, very clear. There was total failure at the top of the leadership of police, obviously, former commissioner Coster has said as much, and he’s done the right thing by resigning.”

Luxon said he was comfortable questions concerning politicians had been answered.

“For me, I'm more focused on what’s the solution. Because we can talk about the process story and the beltway story as much as you like, but actually what’s most important is that this is an organisation that needs to make sure this never ever happens again.”

Hipkins said if the Government chose to have an inquiry or do another review into the matter, he would welcome that and would be “very, very happy” to participate.

Last month, Mitchell said an inquiry was “always an option, but not at the moment, that will be a broader, wider conversation to have across Government”.

A range of inquiries can be triggered - from a non-statutory ministerial inquiry all the way to a Royal Commission which investigates the most serious matters.

The report from the police watchdog IPCA into major police failings concerned the handling of sexual accusations made against McSkimming.

Since the report, an the Public Service Commission completed an independent review, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has appointed a King’s Counsel to conduct employment investigation and the Government will appoint an Inspector-General of Police.

The IPCA is still reviewing the adequacy of the eventual police investigation into the complaints by the woman.