Thursday, January 1, 2026

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Coster says Hipkins and Mitchell knew about McSkimming allegations

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has come out swinging in the Jevon McSkimming scandal, insisting he briefed both former Police Minister Chris Hipkins and current Minister Mark Mitchell about allegations raised by the woman with whom McSkimming had an affair—claims both ministers vehemently deny.

Speaking on state-funded media’s Q+A, Coster said he informed Hipkins during a 2022 trip in the South Island, telling him that McSkimming’s relationship with a “much younger woman” had deteriorated and she was sending emails containing allegations against him.

Coster also maintains he spoke informally to Mitchell several times through 2024. “All I can say is no-one wants to be close to this,” he said.

Both ministers reject his account outright: Hipkins says he was “never briefed,” and Mitchell labelled Coster’s recollections “wrong,” “inconsistent,” and “disappointing,” adding Coster never raised the issue formally or informally before November 2024.

The dispute comes days after Coster resigned as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency following the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s damning report into how police handled allegations against McSkimming.

In the report, the IPCA found Coster failed to adequately probe the affair in 2020, did not disclose it to the Public Service Commission during key appointment processes, and pressured staff to move quickly on an investigation into the woman known as Ms Z while prioritising McSkimming’s career opportunities.

Coster accepts he fell short, saying he acted in good faith but trusted McSkimming too readily and should have taken the allegations more seriously. He apologised to the woman and to police staff, acknowledging “missed opportunities” and “lacking” oversight.

Coster also rejected claims he hurried staff for improper reasons, saying his intention was to ensure fairness while McSkimming was experiencing what he viewed as criminal harassment. He described the former deputy commissioner as a once-trusted colleague, and said he was “gutted” to later learn of the serious offences—child sexual exploitation and bestiality material—McSkimming has since pleaded guilty to. Coster defended Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura’s decision to visit McSkimming during that period, calling it a legitimate welfare check. As political figures distance themselves, Coster maintains he is telling the truth but concedes he kept inadequate notes: “My judgement was wrong and I accept that.”

The IPCA report concluded that Coster’s perception of McSkimming as the victim “clouded his decision-making,” and that his disclosures to oversight bodies fell well below what was expected of a commissioner.

In stepping down, Coster said the fallout has been “hugely damaging” but that his conscience is clear. “I know what I did. I know why I did it,” he said, emphasising that his faith remains his anchor. Meanwhile, the government says its focus is now on implementing the IPCA’s recommendations to prevent a repeat of the failures that have rocked police leadership and triggered an escalating political blame game.

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21 COMMENTS

  1. Unless Coster can come to the party and put some meat on the bone these allegations will remain unsubstantiated merely backed up by nothing but hear say
    Maybe He already has such incriminating evidence before making such allegations to back up His claims?
    Maybe he’s digging the hole first and is going to bury what may transpire as to being lies

    • Mate, don’t you come here and tell us about lies perpetrated by your cronies since politics was invented.
      These allegations shall remain that, but they don’t pass our “yeah right.” smell test and are, on basis of stench, substantiated.

  2. Of course Hopkins knew he knows and is complicit in all the B’s over the last six years. Hopkins is worse then turd on my shoe

  3. “Coster also rejected claims he hurried staff for improper reasons, saying his intention was to ensure fairness while McSkimming was experiencing what he viewed as criminal harassment. ”

    How can it criminal harrasment if you didn’t investigate her claims?
    How the hell is that ensuring fairness?

    “He described the former deputy commissioner as a once-trusted colleague, and said he was “gutted” to later learn of the serious offences—child sexual exploitation and bestiality material—McSkimming has since pleaded guilty to. ”

    But he wasn’t gutted by the serious crime acusations against McSkimming while he was promoting him?

    You’re full of it, Coster. And the IPCA and the media are letting you slide

  4. Hopkins lied and deceived the population, in conjunction with other evil politicians, for six years. Of course he knew. They are all sicko’s of decrepit moral caliber. BAU for these cretins.

  5. Especially Mitchell’s response labeling Coster’s recollections as “wrong,” “inconsistent,” and “disappointing,”… all weasel words to say yes he briefed me, but there is no paper record so deny it.

  6. The police and politicians think they’re above everyone else – a bit like the old “lord” and serfs era instead of citizens and public servants (and it’s the citizens who pay their wages).

  7. Chippy will soon become Skippy, when he skips-out of NZ for all of the damage that he has done.
    More than likely, he’ll go to the UN when Jabby becomes the UN Secretary-General, as she’ll have a job waiting for him.
    (This is why Jabby is getting a LOT of ‘positive press coverage’ right now…)
    I wonder if any warrants for their arrests will come from the neutered ICJ and ICC via INTERPOL for their crimes against humanity?
    Why do I smell the castor beans slowly steaming in many pots?

  8. Coster spreading the blame around by way of an insurance policy.

    An ‘I’ll take you down with me’ veiled threat to the complicit politicians.

    A desperately obvious strategy which might just work.

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