A “brief dip” in Wellington’s Oriental Bay with FBI Director Kash Patel ended with the Police Commissioner apologising for mistakenly believing a tsunami advisory had been lifted. 

Patel, the highest-ranking US official to visit New Zealand under US President Donald Trump’s second presidency so far, arrived in Wellington in July for a three-day programme, in what was supposed to be a secretive trip. 

Patel was spotted in the Beehive basement after his meeting with Foreign Minister Winston Peters on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 30. 

That same day an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s remote east coast triggering tsunami waves on multiple country’s shores - including New Zealand, several Pacific nations, the US and Canadian coasts, and parts of South America. 

The earthquake prompted the National Emergency Management Agency to issue a tsunami advisory urging people to stay away from shorelines. 

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers confirmed to RNZ that on August 1 he went for an early morning run with Patel, followed by a “very quick swim” at Oriental Bay about 7.05am. 

FBI director Kash Patel arrived in Wellington in July for a three-day programme, in what was supposed to be a secretive trip. Photo / US Embassy. 

“It was the middle of winter, so it was a very brief dip. 

“At the time, I believed the tsunami advisory put in place on July 31 had already lifted. 

“When I subsequently discovered it was not lifted until about 8.30am that day, I apologised to Police Minister and Minister for Emergency Management Mark Mitchell for my oversight. It is not usual for me to ignore such warnings.” 

Last week Chambers was delivering a speech to graduating police recruits when he told the new officers and their supporters he had recently been ticketed for speeding. 

He said it was the “dumbest thing I’ve done” as commissioner. 

“It’s not something that I’m proud of. Course I wish I hadn’t done it. Oblivious, away with the fairies - none of that’s an excuse - I should know better. It’s the dumbest thing that I’ve done since I’ve been the commissioner of police.” 

He later told RNZ he was clocked going 112km/h as he returned from a ceremony marking the graduation of new patrol dog teams on November 6. 

A police spokesperson said Chambers paid the $80 fine - which had been dropped in his mailbox - as soon as he arrived home from the graduation. 

The spokesperson corrected Chambers, and said he was actually recorded as travelling at 111km/h. 

The $10,000 trip 

After Patel was spotted in New Zealand, the US embassy revealed the FBI was opening a “standalone office” in Wellington. 

Documents, earlier released to RNZ, set out a timeline, budget and communication plan for Patel’s trip. 

They show that spy Minister Judith Collins signed off on a $10,000 budget to cover accommodation, meals, flights and tourism activities for Patel and an official. 

A SIS briefing note - dated June 25 - described Patel as a person with “significant influence” within the US administration as a direct Trump appointee. 

“This visit provides an opportunity for New Zealand to continue to enhance the bilateral relationship with the United States by demonstrating our commitment and contributions to our intelligence partnership with the FBI, as well as wider Five Eyes constructs. 

“The NZIC [Intelligence Community] will have the opportunity to provide detailed classified briefings to Director Patel in this regard.” 

- Sam Sherwood, RNZ