Rakesh Naidoo cleared after police investigation into possible leaks to Labour

Author: Adam Pearse,
Publish Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2026, 3:09pm

Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo (left) and Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Photo / Supplied

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A police investigation into whether Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo, also a Labour candidate, leaked sensitive information during the time he was being courted by Labour has found no wrongdoing.

The review was launched after Naidoo announced his candidacy. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers had not ruled out the possibility that Naidoo shared sensitive information, while Police Minister Mark Mitchell raised concerns about his level of access.

In a statement from Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson, it stated police’s review of his engagement with Labour had concluded.

“Police is satisfied that correspondence between Superintendent Naidoo and the New Zealand Labour Party from his Police email address related to his official Police duties.”

Anderson also said Naidoo complied with police policy when disclosing to police his candidacy although said it “would have been prudent for police to have been advised of the discussions at an earlier stage”.

“Due to Superintendent Naidoo’s candidacy, he is carrying out agreed alternative duties at Police until he takes leave at the end of August. He remains a respected and valued member of Police.”

Earlier, Anderson apologised for allowing incorrect information to be publicised about when Naidoo first disclosed he was considering becoming a Labour Party candidate.

Naidoo’s candidacy being announced on June 8 drew criticism from Chambers, who said he only learned Naidoo was considering standing as a candidate days earlier on June 4.

In addition to criticism from Mitchell, Chambers said Naidoo should have disclosed his considerations to either him or Anderson as his superior much earlier.

The Herald earlier this month revealed an open letter, written to Mitchell, from a close associate of Naidoo who claimed Naidoo had disclosed his considerations to Anderson earlier than had been made public and claimed Naidoo had not been told his position was untenable.

Police have not responded to the letter.

Correspondence released under the Official Information Act to the Herald yesterday proved Naidoo had first discussed the matter with Anderson in the week commencing May 25.

“Superintendent Naidoo verbally advised AC Anderson he was considering standing as a candidate for the New Zealand Labour Party, although, at that stage, he had not decided to do so,” the document read.

On June 4, Naidoo told Anderson in person he would put his name forward for Labour’s list and would be attending a party meeting on June 6.

“Assistant Commissioner Anderson verbally briefed this information up to Commissioner Chambers by telephone at 3.21pm the same day.

“In a further verbal communication after his call to the Commissioner, AC Anderson spoke again briefly with Superintendent Naidoo.”

On June 7, Naidoo confirmed to Anderson he had been selected as a list candidate and later that day affirmed he would be accepting it.

In a statement this morning, Anderson confirmed Naidoo had spoken to him a week before Anderson told Chambers, admitting that that led to “incorrect information” being given to media.

“At the time Superintendent Naidoo had not reached a decision on whether to stand and I therefore treated our conversation as a confidential discussion and did not inform the Commissioner of this conversation.

“In hindsight, it would have been helpful for me to have advised the Commissioner of Superintendent Naidoo’s first approach.

“I have apologised to both Superintendent Naidoo and Commissioner Chambers for the confusion, which has resulted in incorrect information being provided to media.”

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.