Minister of Police Stuart Nash says he is "disappointed" with the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority's (IPCA) report into complaints over Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha’s behaviour.
It comes after the IPCA report released today found that Mr Haumaha acted inappropriately at times during a high-pressure government project in 2016.
The report also cleared Mr Haumaha, who was promoted to the position in May, of several complaints into his behaviour.
In a statement today the Minister of Police expressed his concerns over the report.
"I have asked the Commissioner of Police to advise me how he intends to respond to the findings of the IPCA report.
"The report did not make any recommendations but it is clear that a finding of improper and unprofessional behaviour requires follow up action," Mr Nash says.
"No Police officer, at any level in the organisation, should act improperly or unprofessionally and I am disappointed to hear the IPCA found it happened in this case.
"The behaviour identified in the IPCA report does not meet the high standards I expect. It is not in line with Police values, which require professionalism and for officers to treat colleagues and the public with respect."
Earlier, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addressed the media about the report into Mr Haumaha's conduct.
The Deputy Police Commissioner was criticised in a report, which found he acted “inappropriately” towards women staffers. (Source: Other)
"I'm very disappointed at the findings of the IPCA report, which shows Mr Haumaha has, in some cases, acted inappropriately and unprofessionally.
"There is a clear expectation on police that they act professionally. I have relayed my views to the Minister of Police and asked that he pass on to the commissioner my expectation that he deal with those matters as employment matters."
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said while the investigation did not find evidence of bullying, the report has raised issues he is taking seriously.
"These are matters that I will deal with as Commissioner of Police.
"I expect high standards from all my staff, but especially members of my Executive.
"The IPCA report clarifies a number of matters that have been traversed in the media in recent months."
The IPCA report found that Mr Haumaha acted poorly on two separate occasions, including one incident in which he was believed to have acted inappropriately and unprofessionally for a senior executive.
The report concluded that his behaviour was "inappropriate and unprofessional" but did not clearly constitute workplace bullying.
An investigation into a third complaint surrounding his behaviour in implicitly asking staff to support him in refuting allegations about his conduct was found to be inappropriate.
SHARE ME