{"id":17770,"date":"2026-06-26T04:36:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T16:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/?p=17770"},"modified":"2026-06-26T04:36:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T16:36:38","slug":"police-commissioner-richard-chambers-under-investigation-after-complaints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/?p=17770","title":{"rendered":"Police Commissioner Richard Chambers under investigation after complaints"},"content":{"rendered":"
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An investigation is under way in relation to complaints about Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, RNZ can reveal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chambers says he strongly rejects the claims, which RNZ understands relate to alleged conduct towards women. RNZ understands the allegations have not been substantiated at this time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RNZ approached Police and the Minister of Police Mark Mitchell’s office last week after learning concerns had been raised about Chambers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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On Thursday, Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett told RNZ complaints relating to Chambers were being investigated by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“These are being managed in accordance with proper processes including oversight by the IPCA. There is no further comment at this stage.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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RNZ understands that as part of the investigation staff from the National Integrity Unit visited one of the complainants in Australia. This allegation is believed to be historical.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Do you know more? Email<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chambers responds to allegations<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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In a statement to RNZ, Chambers said he had been advised the IPCA and police are investigating complaints against him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I strongly reject the claims that have been made.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I will cooperate fully with the investigation and look forward to having this matter dealt with.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I acknowledge the public interest in this, but it is important the investigation takes its course. I cannot make further comment at this point.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In a note to staff, seen by RNZ, Chambers said he strongly rejected the claims.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“It is important to let that investigation take its course without any interference. That is what anyone would expect, including myself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I am advised it is not necessary for me to take leave at this point. I will continue to turn up to work and do my job.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Police Minister aware of complaints<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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In a statement to RNZ, Mitchell said he was “aware that complaints have been received about the Police Commissioner.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“They are now being investigated by police and the IPCA. I have no further comment at this time.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In an OIA received by RNZ, Mitchell said he had received two complaints related to Chambers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The first on 21 November 2025 and the second on 1 February 2026. These complaints were both referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Police National Integrity Unit.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A Public Service Commission spokesperson said they had nothing to add to the statement by police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The matter is under investigation by the appropriate authorities.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Asked if the police commissioner had been stood down, they said “Based on the information available, the Commissioner does not consider that is required at this time.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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An IPCA spokesperson said in a statement the IPCA could confirm that they have received complaints which concern Chambers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“These are being investigated by the IPCA and Police. We are actively overseeing the Police component of the investigation; this includes ensuring the integrity of the investigation is maintained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“We recognise that there is a high level of public interest in complaints which involve senior police officers. It is important that these complaints are appropriately assessed and follow normal complaint processes.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The spokesperson said that “in accordance with the principles of fair process and natural justice for the parties involved, we will not be making any comment about the substance of these complaints until the investigations are concluded”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins said it was “a matter for the police and IPCA”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Police under scrutiny<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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The revelations follow a troubling year for police in\u00a0the wake of Jevon McSkimming’s resignation<\/a>\u00a0after child sexual exploitation and bestiality material was found on his work devices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Disgraced<\/div>
Jevon McSkimming at his sentencing. (File photo)<\/p>\n

RNZ\/Samuel Rillstone<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Then, in November the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a scathing report into police’s handling of allegations made about McSkimming, finding serious misconduct at the highest levels of police – including former Commissioner Andrew Coster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After the IPCA report was released, Chambers said the findings showed “inexcusable conduct by former senior leaders of NZ Police”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The events and findings set out in the IPCA report made for appalling reading and showed a total lack of leadership and integrity at the highest levels of police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“I was shocked by the report’s account of departures in 2023 and 2024 from the expected processes for dealing both with sexual assault complaints and with investigations into police officers.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He said the events in the report were a “kick in the guts for the 15,000 women and men of NZ Police who turn up to work every day and night to serve New Zealanders and keep them safe”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“That has angered me. It was not those staff who were found wanting here. It was a failing of leadership.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“The actions and attitudes set out in the report are inexcusable and show a disrespect and disregard for what NZ Police stands for.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A rise through the ranks<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Chambers became Commissioner of Police in November 2024, taking over from Coster.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Speaking at the time Chambers said the appointment was one of the “highest honours of my life”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chambers joined the police in 1996 as a constable in Avondale and quickly rose through the ranks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Having been promoted to detective and then inspector, Chambers was appointed the area commander for Lower Hutt in 2007. After that, he held top roles in the Tasman and Southern districts and then Auckland City.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chambers was promoted to assistant commissioner in 2016, leading investigations into serious and organised crime, and financial crime. He also played a key role during the Covid-19 pandemic, tasked with co-leading the police response.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An investigation is under way in relation to complaints about Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, RNZ can reveal. Chambers says he strongly rejects the claims, which RNZ understands relate to alleged conduct towards women. RNZ understands the allegations have not been substantiated at this time. RNZ approached Police and the Minister of Police Mark Mitchell’s office […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":17771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[222,174],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-nz-news"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17770"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17772,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17770\/revisions\/17772"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebuzz.apnanetwork.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}