Dr Pauline Kingi was appointed to the inquiry only a few weeks ago. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Head of Wally Haumaha inquiry stands down

Author: Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2018, 2:43PM

The chair of the inquiry into Wally Haumaha's appointment as deputy police commissioner has stood down.

Dr Pauline Kingi, a well-respected public servant, was last week announced as chairwoman of the $150,000 inquiry to "examine, identify and report on the adequacy of the process".

She was appointed more than three weeks after the Herald revealed comments made by Haumaha during Operation Austin, an investigation into historic police rape allegations made by Louise Nicholas.

But the focus has been on Dr Kingi after the Herald yesterday revealed she had endorsed Haumaha's skills and experience on the professional networking website LinkedIn 23 times.

Dr Kingi could not remember doing this, Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin said in Parliament yesterday.

"At that time it was common practice for Maori professionals to support each other through this new medium through endorsements."

Martin revealed Kingi had declared she "knew of" Haumaha in a professional capacity and also attended the same tangi as Haumaha in 2015 or 2016.

Today in Parliament, Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin said Dr Kingi informed her office she was standing down.

More to come.