Police sergeant reprimanded after sending character reference for sex offender from work email
Photo:
RNZ
A police sergeant has been reprimanded for sending a character reference for a convicted sex offender from his police email address.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority said the officer was supporting the sex offender's bail application to travel overseas for a sports tournament, though the reference was ultimately unnecessary and never reached the Court.
An internal investigation found the sergeant was providing the reference in his capacity as a private citizen, but sent it from his work email.
The authority said that had incorrectly and inappropriately implied his views represented the wider New Zealand Police.
Police found he had breached the code of conduct and undertook "an employment process," which the IPCA said they were satisfied with.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
Napier drug dealer Kevan Salisbury offered to sell meth and fantasy by the litre
By Ric Stevens, Open Justice reporter of Kevan Darryl Salisbury admitted offering to sell methamphetamine on 19 occasions, as well as the drug fantasy in liquid form. Photo: Supplied / NZME A man with a long drug dealing history is awaiting another sentence after offering to sell methamphetamine and the dangerous party drug fantasy by the litre. Kevan Darryl Salisbury has pleaded guilty in the Napier District Court to nine charges, including supplying and offering to supply meth, supplying and offering to supply fantasy, and possession of a home-made taser. He is due to be sentenced in October. Salisbury has a criminal history stretching back to 2010, when he was caught up in a police crackdown on the retail chain Switched on Gardener , where people could buy cannabis-growing supplies . In that year, he received 10 months of home detention stemming from the commercial cultivation of cannabis at his work address and home. In 2015, he was sent to prison for two years and two months on further charges of cultivating cannabis, offering to sell cannabis oil and assaulting his partner. The drugs charges had been laid after police searched his home in July 2015 and found 24 cannabis plants. Data on his phone showed he had been offering to supply cannabis oil to various associates. Phone data again proved Salisbury's downfall in his latest offending. Police obtained a court order on 10 March this year which allowed them to access his phone data from 1 January to 1 March, 2025. They found evidence of numerous offers to supply methamphetamine and fantasy. For many the quantities involved could not be confirmed, so "the full extent of the defendant's drug dealing remains unknown", according to a Crown summary of facts. However, Salisbury pleaded guilty to representative charges of offering to supply methamphetamine on 19 separate occasions, with total known quantities of 32.75g. He offered to supply a gram of meth to 11 different people in a single day. He admitted supplying meth on at least three occasions. Salisbury offered to supply fantasy at least 11 times, with known quantities totalling 3.18 litres. The Switched on Gardener store in Hastings, photographed in 2010. Police cracked down on the national chain, which was selling growing equipment to cannabis growers. Kevan Darryl Salisbury was working for Switched on Gardener in 2010. Photo: Supplied / NZME On 27 February, Salisbury offered to sell two litres of fantasy to two prospective buyers, for $1000. On 1 March, he offered three people the chance to buy 500ml for $250. Fantasy is the common name for a range of drugs, including gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), 1,4 butanediol (1,4-BD) and gamma butyrolactone (GBL). GBL converts to GHB in the body when ingested and is sometimes associated with "date rape" due to its sedative and mind-altering effects. The Crown summary of facts said GBL was highly hazardous, "as it can cause euphoria, sedation, unconsciousness and even death, with a very narrow margin between a safe and lethal dose". Police raided Salisbury's Napier home on 2 April, 2025. As they arrived, he tried to throw a small container containing cannabis plant material and seeds out his bedroom window. When searching the bedroom, police found 3g of methamphetamine, cannabis and a home-made taser. In the lounge, police found methamphetamine utensils, more cannabis, and a slug gun near the front door. The total amount of cannabis taken from the property was 109.5g. Salisbury refused to provide the pin for his cellphone. On Friday, he admitted supplying methamphetamine, offering to supply meth, possessing meth, supplying fantasy, offering to supply fantasy, possessing cannabis, possessing a restricted weapon, possessing drug utensils and failing to comply with a search. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rugby: Final Ferns farewell before World Cup defence
The theme of the Black Ferns World Cup campaign is to 'be brave.' Coach Alan Bunting embodied this notion during their farewell at Manurewa Intermediate today, belting out a rendition of Dua Lipa's Levitating . His performance captured the energy of the goodbye perfectly, as the Ferns boogied away with their young fans before departing for their Rugby World Cup defence in England. Black Ferns (from left) Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu, Jorja Miller and Braxton Sorenson McGee at today's farewell. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Ferns fever ran absolutely rampant in South Auckland, as a deafening reception greeted the squad. Bunting said it was special to see the students so inspired by the Black Ferns. "I know that every one of these ladies here had someone to look up to and I know that for you to be her, you had to see her. These connections are vital to the Black Ferns heartbeat and we will take that with us." Black Ferns fever ran rampant at Manurewa Intermediate on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Following formalities was a Q+A with members of the school's champion girls sevens team. Asked who inspired her on her rugby journey, flanker Jorja Miller responded "Probably Richie McCaw," which drew a bit of a groan from the audience, before she continued "and Portia Woodman", as the crowd erupted in cheers. "Do you ever get scared during a game?" prop Chryss Viliko was asked. "Of course, but you overcome that and find the joy in it." Manurewa Intermediate student asks Black Ferns a question during their World Cup farewell. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi The fitting final question went to prop Tanya Kalounivale: "What do you want all the kids who love to play rugby to know?" "Enjoy the little moments." A dance party then broke out with players, staff and students rocking out to Justin Bieber, Whitney Houston and Beyonce. But the Ferns know the serious stuff is just around the corner. "It's a bit daunting but I feel we have done the hard yards to get to this position, we are prepared for what's to and we have the support of our nation and that's all that matters," Kalounivale said. "We are all we have over there." Coach Alan Bunting addresses students at Manurewa Intermediate. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi It marks a debut tournament for fellow prop Viliko. "When I think about it I get emotional, I think about my family and the people I carry with me and who have supported me on my journey." She said it won't be just her whanau she carries to the United Kingdom. "We stand on the shoulders of the wahine toa who have played before us, we wouldn't be here without them." Manurewa Intermediate students in full voice as they farewell the Black Ferns ahead of their Rugby World Cup campaign. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi As for what 'being brave' looks like come World Cup time? "Putting our hand up, giving it a go, and playing with freedom." The quest to go back to back begins. Manurewa Intermediate pupils were excited to see the players on Wednesday. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
9 hours ago
- RNZ News
The Panel with Heather Roy and Tim Batt Part 1
Te Aro School teacher Serah Mehrtens reads 'At the Marae' to her class. She says her pupils have not struggled with Māori words in the book. Photo: RNZ / John Gerritsen Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Heather Roy and Tim Batt. First, the Education Minister ordered an almost total ban on Maori words in a series of books used to teach five-year-olds - the panel hears from the Education Institute president. Then, house prices have slumped to their lowest since the Covid-era boom. What's driving the property market down? Coality principle property economist Kelvin Davidson explains.
