Former prime minister Sir John Key at a ceremony for the graduation of a police recruit wing in Auckland on 14 November 2025. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Former Prime Minister John Key says the public's trust in the police has been threatened by recent serious misconduct.
His comments come after an Independent Police Conduct Authority report released this week found senior police leaders mishandled accusations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of a police recruit wing in Auckland on Friday morning, Sir John Key acknowledged it had been a "tough week" for police.
"There needs to be trust between the public and the police and the events of the past week threaten that trust.
"What happened is significant and important, and that's why it's being taken very seriously. The challenge is how we handle it now to make sure it doesn't happen again."
He praised current Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, saying he would be one of the finest leaders in police history and was the right person for the job of rebuilding public trust.
From L to R is Sir John Key, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, Deputy Police Minister Casey Costello, and Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo: RNZ / Jessica Hopkins
Friday's graduates, Recruit Wing 390, were the first class trained at a new police college facility in Albany.
Another police recruit wing graduated in Wellington on Thursday.
'Sadly sometimes individuals let down the institution' - Former Prime Minister
After the graduation, Sir John told RNZ New Zealanders relied on police to uphold laws and keep them safe.
"Really, the main lesson is there's the institution, if you like, and there are individuals, and sadly sometimes individuals let down the institution," he said.
"I don't think a couple of individuals who've done some things that could be terribly wrong will actually ultimately shatter that bond of trust, but what is important is we have two things, transparency and leadership."
He said Chambers was "a very good leader", who had integrity.
"Unfortunately, when you get something like you had this week, it can challenge people, and police have to discharge their duties without fear or favour. It looks like this week they haven't done that and that's a big problem."
Sir John said something must be done to make sure something like this did not happen again.
"That really comes from the culture that's set by the top."
'Lack of leadership, lack of integrity' - Commissioner
At that event, the commissioner told graduates he had been ticketed for speeding the previous week, admitting he was "away with the fairies".
He said it was one of the dumbest things he had done as commissioner and that he should've known better.
Chambers told RNZ it had been a tough week.
"I mean, the events of this week are appalling. I've been very clear with my thoughts on it, lack of leadership, lack of integrity.
"It's not just the frontline police that are absolutely gutted and, as I said earlier in the week, this whole experience has been a kick in the guts for members of New Zealand Police, whether you're on the frontline or your civilian colleagues.
"It's appalling behaviour and, as I have previously said, the behaviours of some of the most senior officers in New Zealand Police - now former - was one of groupthink, self-interest. They put aside the needs of a woman reaching out who wanted to tell the police something.
"That was not important to the senior leadership - that's the way it appears. That must never happen again."
Chambers would not be drawn on any superannuation McSkimming may receive, because he resigned before he could be sacked.
"That's not a matter for me and, quite frankly, I don't really care, because I want to move on, focus on going forward, and put that individual and the things that he got up to behind us," he said.
"To be honest, it's not something I even put energy into thinking about."
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