13 January 2020
James de Vere
By email to:
[email address]
Dear Mr de Vere
OFFICIAL INFORMATION REQUEST – OUR REFERENCE: IR-01-19-13193
In July 2019, I wrote to you about a request you made for the following information:
Please provide detailed information regarding any [Assistant Commissioner or
higher] that are presently suspended, stood down or on other performance – or
behaviour-related non-standard duty (eg special leave). I request the same details
for any similar cases since 1 January 2017. I would like to know the Rank of the
officers, what the matter is that they are (or were) being investigated for, and key
dates including when the complaint(s) were received and when the officers ceased
and recommenced their regular work routine. If any cases have been investigated
and closed please advise how they were resolved.
You subsequently made a complaint to the Ombudsman about Police’s response
and we have been liaising with the Office of the Ombudsman about it. As a result,
I can confirm that Deputy Commissioner Wallace Haumaha was one of the officers
referred to in my earlier letter. As you may already be aware, the Deputy
Commissioner’s appointment in May 2018 was subject to a Government Inquiry
and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) also carried out an
investigation into al egations made against him. Detailed information about both
inquires is the public domain, and can be accessed from the following hyperlinks:
https://www.ipca.govt.nz/Site/publications-and-media/2018-Reports-on-Investigations/
2018-dec-20-complaints-wallace-haumaha.aspx
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Government-Inquiry-Into-the-Appointment-Process-for-a-Deputy-
Commissioner-of-Police
During both inquiries, the Deputy Commissioner was undertaking full duties, but
was not routinely working from Police National Headquarters. In late December
2018, at the conclusion of the IPCA investigation, the Deputy Commissioner
recommenced working full time from Police National Headquarters.
Respectfully
Mike Webb
General Manager
Professionalism and Assurance