Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The police minister says further inquiries are an option following an Independent Police Conduct Authority's report which found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police.
But Mark Mitchell said it was not something currently being discussed.
The report found senior police staff, including the former commissioner, knew of allegations involving former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and failed to act appropriately.
The IPCA report made a series of recommendations for police and the government, all of which have been accepted.
They include the establishment of an Inspector-General to have oversight of police, as well as employment proceedings against some police staff who had breached the code of conduct by bringing police into disrepute.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Checkpoint three staff members highlighted in the report still work for police, including an officer who wrongly labelled accusations against McSkimming as "false".
He has appointed a King's Counsel to undertake employment investigations, where required.
Others, including former Commissioner Andrew Coster and former Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura have since left, as has former Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham, who RNZ understands was "Assistant Commissioner A" in the IPCA report.
Former Commissioner Andrew Coster. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
On Wednesday, Mitchell was asked whether those that have since left police should be made to answer questions, or face any charges.
He said there was "no doubt" police would be conducting further reviews or investigations, but they were a matter for the Commissioner.
"I think now that we've got the IPCA report, it now puts the Police Commissioner in a position where he can start to make decisions around any additional internal inquiries, or other actions that need to be taken," he said.
The prospect of a broader inquiry would "definitely" be discussed, but at the moment the focus was on the IPCA report.
"That is always an option, but not at the moment. That will be a broader, wider conversation to have across government," he said.
"We've been really clear that we felt that the IPCA report is so thorough and so detailed that most of the questions are probably answered, in terms of the questions that have been raised. But if there's going to some type of government or ministerial inquiry, that has not been decided or discussed at the moment."
Chambers said staff that had since left police could have taken "a number of factors" into account when deciding to leave.
"Some of them would have got a draft copy, because they're entitled to see it to comment on, and they may have reflected on that."
Chambers indicated he had expressed to Kura his disappointment she had visited McSkimming while he was facing criminal charges, but that was a separate matter to the findings in the IPCA report.
"Those who have moved on from police have probably made the right decision before other action was taken," Chambers said.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A police spokesperson told RNZ that Basham wanted to pass on that his retirement was "unrelated to anything other than it was the right time for him and his family. Entirely personal decision".
Chambers said the threshold for criminal behaviour was the same as the Solicitor General's guidelines in the public interest and evidential thresholds.
He wanted to be satisfied there was nothing else to take a look at, and would take independent advice first.
"Obviously the behaviours are very concerning, and we need to have a think about that. But it's a little early for me to be able to communicate if there's anything else from a criminal perspective."
Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the first step for police would be rebuilding trust and confidence with the public.
She said she would want to see what the purpose of any future inquiry was before committing to support it.
"The IPCA report is comprehensive, but if there are further inquiries or questions unanswered as a result of that, those are really questions for the Minister of Police and the Police Commissioner to determine whether further work is needed."
The public service minister and Attorney-General said she had considered whether there should be a wider inquiry, but ultimately did not see a need.
"The IPCA was absolutely so thorough," Judith Collins said.
"The issue on the emails to Minister Mitchell's office, that is all now public, so what are they going to say? They're going to say 'Inspector-General of Police', which is exactly what we're doing."
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