Public Service Commissioner Meets Former Police Chief Over Coffee

Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche had a coffee meeting with former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster at the Mojo Cafe in Defence House, located near New Zealand’s Parliament, on March 15, 2024. This meeting occurred approximately six weeks after Roche publicly stated he would have dismissed Coster had he not resigned from his position at the Social Investment Agency.

The gathering was described by the Public Service Commission as merely a “general catch-up,” with no further details provided. Attempts to obtain comments from Coster were unsuccessful. According to Newstalk ZB, the two had previously agreed to meet after Coster’s resignation.

Coster stepped down from his role at the Social Investment Agency in December 2022, following significant criticism stemming from a report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The report revealed that high-ranking police officials, including Coster, failed to adequately address anonymous allegations against former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who was accused of being a sexual predator. Instead of investigating these serious claims, police utilized the allegations as evidence to prosecute a complainant under the Harmful Digital Communications Act.

Following the report’s release, Coster was placed on leave and resigned on December 3, 2022. In his resignation statement, he accepted responsibility for the shortcomings highlighted in the IPCA’s review, acknowledging failures in handling complaints during his tenure.

Roche, in a subsequent interview, emphasized that he would have taken disciplinary action had Coster not chosen to resign. He remarked, “All options were on the table. If I’d had to [sack him], I would have. I didn’t have to because he made the right professional decision.” Roche clarified that while Coster was accountable for the police organization, the IPCA found no evidence of corruption or collusion among officers.

Upon his resignation, Coster received a severance package equivalent to three months’ salary, amounting to just under $124,000, based on his annual salary of $495,825.

The implications of this meeting between Roche and Coster extend beyond personal interactions, reflecting ongoing discussions about accountability within New Zealand’s public service and police sectors. As both figures navigate the aftermath of recent controversies, their future roles and impacts on governance remain in focus.