• Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says he won’t intervene at this stage over police’s investigation into allegations against a now-former deputy press secretary to the Prime Minister.
• Christopher Luxon spoke to the media this morning for the first time since it was revealed his deputy press secretary Michael Forbes resigned.
• Forbes resigned on Wednesday following a Stuff report that Forbes allegedly recorded audio and took photographs of women in compromising positions without their consent.

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster claims he wasn’t aware of police’s investigation into the Prime Minister’s former deputy chief press secretary, despite the current commissioner confirming police’s executive team knew.

It comes as Police Commissioner Richard Chambers doesn’t believe he needs to intervene over police’s investigation into allegations against Michael Forbes and is leaving the decision to his Wellington staff.

The 2024 investigation into Michael Forbes was not disclosed to the Government, Chambers saying police’s executive team was made aware of the matter and the decision to disclose it would have been for Coster, who was the Police Commissioner at the time.

However, Coster - now the chief executive of the Government’s Social Investment Agency - is claiming he was unaware of the matter until it reported publicly yesterday.

“I learned of this situation through the media in the last 24 hours,” Coster said in a statement.

“As I no longer have access to information about Police’s processes I am unable to comment further.”

Police last year investigated a complaint received from a Wellington brothel after a “client was found to have concerning images and recordings on his phone”. did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution.

Michael Forbes, who has been temporarily working in Christopher Luxon’s office and was previously Social Development Minister Louise Upston’s press secretary, allegedly recorded audio and took photographs of women in compromising positions without their consent, Stuff reported yesterday.

The Prime Minister’s Office says it only became aware of the allegations after being approached by a journalist on Tuesday afternoon. Forbes subsequently resigned from his role.

Questions have arisen about whether police should have alerted Ministerial Services or the Prime Minister’s Office about the investigation.

In a statement to the Herald, Chambers said he was “first made aware of the issue late on Tuesday afternoon after a media inquiry”.

“I immediately contacted the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently informed the Police Minister under the no-surprises practice.

“It was raised with the police executive in July 2024, during the investigation into the complaint. It was not brought to the attention of ministers or Ministerial Services at the time.

“It is up to the commissioner of the day to decide what to elevate by way of the no surprises convention.

“Those decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. It would be wrong for me to comment on decisions made by the then executive because I do not know the information they were based on, or the reasons for those decisions.

“In situations such as this, it should also be considered whether there is an obligation on an individual to raise any issues that might be relevant to their employment with their employer or prospective employer.”

“Decisions around the handling of the investigation and questions about whether it should be re-visited are for Wellington District police to consider. I have absolute faith in them to do that.”

In a subsequent stand-up with media, Chambers wouldn’t comment on the decision not to disclose as he wasn’t part of the police executive team at the time.

He did acknowledge police’s executive team were informed about it and spoke of the importance of the commissioner being made aware of such matters.

Luxon earlier fronted the media for the first time and expressed “absolute shock”, “frustration and anger” at the allegations and the impact it has had.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was revealed Forbes had resigned in the wake of the allegations being revealed. The Prime Minister’s office became aware of the allegations on Tuesday afternoon.

The Herald has asked Forbes for comment. Forbes declined to be interviewed but in a statement said he wanted to apologise to the women and recognised the harm he had caused.

He said it did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution and the case was filed. He confirmed officers spoke with “the individual” as part of police’s investigation.

The Prime Minister’s Office said it first became aware of the allegations by a journalist at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Press secretary Michael Forbes (left) seen here walking with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister Louise Upston. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Forbes has been temporarily working in Luxon’s office recently and had previously worked as press secretary for Social Development Minister Louise Upston during the time of the alleged behaviour.

“The matters were immediately raised with Ministerial Services and the Prime Minister was informed that evening,” the statement said.

“The allegations were serious and concerning. They were discussed with the staff member on the evening of June 3 and it was clear their employment was untenable.

“It was agreed that the staff member was stood down that evening and they resigned the following morning. Had the staff member not resigned, we expect their employment would have been terminated after a short investigation.

Forbes said he had failed to make a genuine attempt to apologise and had tried to move on without offering the women accountability and acknowledgment.

He said therapy had helped him reflect on his behaviour and address what had led to it.

“I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do.”