Former police superintendent Rakesh Naidoo has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his transition from law enforcement to politics, emphasizing that he harbors no ill feelings toward Police Commissioner Richard Chambers or Police Minister Mark Mitchell despite their earlier public criticisms of him. Naidoo’s comments come as he embarks on his campaign as a candidate for the Labour Party.

Naidoo, who held the position of ethnic, iwi and communities national partnerships manager during his 25-year police career, was placed 13th on Labour’s party list in June. The announcement of his candidacy prompted swift reactions from political and police officials. Mark Mitchell, also the National Party’s crime spokesman, expressed dissatisfaction at being unaware of Naidoo’s political intentions, highlighting concerns about Naidoo’s access to sensitive police information. Commissioner Chambers echoed these concerns, initiating an investigation into whether Naidoo had leaked sensitive information while discussing potential political involvement.

While Chambers initially described it as “untenable” for Naidoo to remain in his police role during the investigation, Naidoo was suspended from his duties, losing his powers and uniform as he prepared to leave the force. The investigation, which Police characterized as examining Naidoo’s communications with Labour and any third parties, ultimately cleared him of wrongdoing in August. According to a police statement, correspondence from Naidoo’s police email address with the Labour Party was deemed to be connected to his official police responsibilities. However, police did not provide clarification on why the investigation’s original scope changed or who specifically conducted the inquiry. It also emerged that no formal terms of reference had been established.

Naidoo received an apology from Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson after initial comments from Chambers suggested Anderson had only recently been informed about Naidoo’s consideration of a political bid, while Naidoo contended he had made Anderson aware weeks earlier.

Supporters of Naidoo, including former race relations commissioners, publicly defended his integrity during the investigation, alleging that Mitchell’s criticism was politically motivated and closely aligned with Chambers. Mitchell rejected these claims and maintained his criticism following the conclusion of the inquiry. Chambers declined to comment on the matter once the investigation ended and also did not respond to requests for comment on Naidoo’s police tenure.

In his first public remarks since the investigation cleared him, made during an interview at Parliament, Naidoo expressed satisfaction with the outcome and noted the apology he received regarding the dissemination of incorrect information about his candidacy. He reaffirmed that he did not leak any sensitive information during his police service but deferred to police authorities on the necessity of such reviews. When asked about the possibility of an apology from Chambers, Naidoo did not provide a definitive answer, attributing Chambers’ earlier statements to the information available at that time.

Reflecting on his police career, Naidoo highlighted his contributions to major national events, including the response to the Canterbury earthquakes, the 2019 Christchurch terror attack, and the COVID-19 pandemic, framing these as enduring aspects of his legacy unaffected by the recent controversy.

As Naidoo transitions fully into his role as a Labour candidate, his experience and list ranking suggest he will remain a prominent figure in the party’s campaign efforts.