Podcast appearances and mentions of andrew coster

Presidents and Prime Ministers happily hogged the screen in TV specials this week - but not our PM. Ex-top cop Andrew Coster broke his silence at length - and big deals are being done in overseas media. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Chris Hipkins is hitting out at the Taxpayers' Union as it prepares to launch a campaign against Finance Minister Nicola Willis. The lobby group is questioning Willis's track record on the economy. Willis has responded, challenging chair and former finance minister Ruth Richardson to a debate. The Labour Leader told John MacDonald the Taxpayers' Union has a view of "entrenched privilege". He claims the organisation is funded by a group of rich people who want to keep all of their money. Hipkins is also unimpressed by Willis' decision to agree to the debate, which he says shows deep divisions among the National Party. He calls it petty and says Willis should be focused on things like creating jobs. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Politics Wednesday, Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the week thus far. They discussed the newly-announced RMA reforms – how does Labour feel about the new acts? There's been another development in the McSkimming saga, with Andrew Coster claiming he briefed both Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell on the situation previously – something neither of them recall. And is the Ministerial Advisory Group for Retail Crime taking the mickey with how much they're charging for their services? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've seen some wild housing stories over the years, but this one takes the cake. In today's episode, we break down the quiet Kāinga Ora deal that handed almost 20 state houses to Tainui for $10 million… and then locked every non-iwi Kiwi out of buying them. No tender. No open market. No chance for anyone else. Duncan unpacks why this long-standing treaty clause is suddenly being used at scale, why it's stirring real anger, and what it means for home ownership, fairness, and the idea of one New Zealand. Then our panel - Ashley Church and Rawdon Christie - jump in to debate whether this is racial division or simply a treaty promise being honoured. We also get into Andrew Coster's fight for credibility, the year's political winners and losers, and the moments that truly shaped 2024. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper talked to Ryan Bridge about today's political hot topics. Luxon sold the RMA reform we'll see tomorrow from Chris Bishop and Simon Court. Minister of Police Mark Mitchell is at odds with former police commissioner Andrew Coster over who knew what and when in the McSkimming scandal. A New Zealand war ship is being shadowed by a Chinese fleet near Taiwan. And, Helen Clark's father passed away. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 8 December 2025, the EMA's Alan McDonald outlines why tomorrow's RMA overhaul is so desperately needed and why he thinks the Government is coming with the bazooka approach. Will the big Netflix-Warner Brothers deal lead to fewer films in cinemas? Media commentator Duncan Greive weighs in. The Children's Commissioner has launched a campaign against child homicide, but are the country's worst parents really going to pay attention? Labour's Chris Hipkins rejects Andrew Coster's assertion he'd been briefed about the McSkimming affair - and says he has a witness. Plus, the Huddle debate the Children's Commission's campaign against child homicide and whether the days of boozy and lavish Christmas parties are over. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Coster fronted up to a full episode of Q&A to talk to jack Tame about what happened, what he says is being ignored and how much he says Ministers of the Crown knew...versus how much they are agreeing to what they knewMinister of Police Mark Mitchell responds to Andrew Coster's interview on Q&A this morning on BreakfastMariameno Kapa-Kingi is back in TPM by virtue of a court order and attended the AGM over the weekend. We've had several emails from people who either were there, or who have been supporting TM over the years with some interesting perspectivesFinally, there is a 1News political poll out this evening that has sparked the rumour mill with online commentators saying it's going to be bad for Labour. We shall see.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Whether-or-not you saw former police commissioner Andrew Coster's TV interview yesterday, you'll know about the allegations he's making. He thinks people are running for the hills after the Jevon McSkimming scandal and aren't telling the whole story in terms of what they knew and when they knew it. Especially current police minister Mark Mitchell and former police minister Chris Hipkins. Isn't it weird that someone who served in the police for more than 25 years - who, I imagine, determined at some points during that time that there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute - thinks he can make all sorts of accusations without one shred of evidence to prove it? That's what I took away from yesterday's interview. Can you imagine the police charging anyone with an offence with zero proof or zero evidence? Yet that is exactly what Andrew Coster did yesterday. He made these allegations that Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell aren't being upfront. Then, in the next breath, admitted that he had no record or evidence to prove it. That would be “case closed” if it was a police investigation. And, because he can't prove it, I can't believe him. This is someone who spent 28 years looking for evidence of guilt. He's got no evidence to back-up what he's saying - so I'm not buying it. Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell are both denying Coster's claims. Chris Hipkins says he “was never briefed on Jevon McSkimming's relationship with Ms Z during his time as minister of police or prime minister. Andrew Coster claims he told Hipkins in 2022 in the back of a car while they were on an official trip in the South Island, when Hipkins was police minister in the Labour government. And, Mark Mitchell is pushing back big time on Coster's claim that he knew earlier than 6 November last year. On Newstalk ZB this morning, he said Coster's claims were “absolute nonsense”. He said this morning - as he has since the Independent Police Conduct Authority report came out last month - that he first became aware on 6 November 2024, when Andrew Coster was told by the Public Service Commission to brief him on the situation. Mitchell says he didn't buy Coster's narrative that McSkimming was the victim. He says he's a father and that he pushed as much as he could as a minister to make sure the woman at the centre of all this was looked after. So it's “he says-he says”. But Andrew Coster has no evidence to prove his allegations so I can't believe him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has reignited the Jevon McSkimming scandal - disputing claims put forward by politicians, the new top cop, and the IPCA. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell's doubling down on his version of the McSkimming saga timeline - calling recent claims "absolute utter nonsense." Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster's come out over the weekend claiming Mitchell - and Chris Hipkins - knew about the McSkimming affair, years earlier than they're letting on. However Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan he was only told on November 6th 2024. He says Coster was told to brief him by the Public Service Commission, and he didn't buy or swallow the narrative that McSkimming was a victim. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday the 5th of December with Heather du Plessis-Allan, Mark Mitchell responds to Andrew Coster's allegations and the police are having to do away with thousands of formal warnings because officers haven't followed protocol. Prime Minister Chris Luxon responds to Coster's allegations and the taxpayers expected campaign against the Government. Andrew Saville and Jason Pine take us through Lando Norris winning the F1 Championship, Lawson getting the nod for next year and why Bazball is failing England in the Ashes series. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) These Statements Don't Add Up/And the Winner for Best Publicity Campaign Goes To.../Norris Deep Dive/The Bridge Is Not Falling Down/How to Take a Royal SelfieSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What to make of the Andrew Coster interview on Q and A yesterday Firstly why did he do it. Obviously he felt he had been thrown under the bus by Judith Collins, Mark Mitchell and Richard Chambers at their recent press conference So he was prepared to throw them under the bus as well. And he does have a point when the IPCA report did not mention corruption but the politicians and the new police commissioner inferred it. The protection of his name is the reason he negotiated with the Public Service Commissioner regarding the delay in resigning from his latest job and frankly I don't blame him But the problem is he has no proof of his claims. And so now we have a he said, he said situation with nobody able to provide concrete proof of their claims. He may have briefed Mitchell and Hipkins of the situation but which situation was he talking about. An affair gone wrong or a police force covering up for one of their own. and how much detail of anything did he giver in these informal briefings. Who knows? The fascinating fact he mentioned is that the police is a 3 billion dollar business which makes the job of Police Commissioner one of the biggest in our economy. Ask any CEO whether they take notes of any conversation about their business and they'll tell you it's imperative. One would have thought it's imperative for any Minister of the Crown as well. My whole impression of the interview is that everyone was a bit loose. It's a tawdry tale of bad judgement at the top of our public service. And the buck always stops at the top It also reminded me that the political battles at the top levels of our public service are vicious affairs with everyone playing a hard game. And with Richard Chambers in a competition with a very competent police officer, who had a hidden sex life and predilection for animals, you wonder how he never knew anything One can only hope that Coster and Ms Z find a new normal and peace and everyone learns to take their jobs more seriously See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former police commissioner Andrew Coster claims he had briefed Chris Hipkins on Jevon McSkimming's alleged misconduct in 2022, and briefed Mark Mitchell in 2024. Coster stepped down as Chief Executive of the Social Investment Agency this week, after an IPCA report showed failures in how the police dealt with allegations against McSkimming. Both Hipkins and Mitchell have denied Andrew Coster's claims, and both have released statements saying they would have taken action had they known. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Andrew Dickens Full Show Podcast Monday 8th of December 2025, Andrew Coster has made explosive claims in an interview with Q&A, lawyer and former cop Matthew Hague shares his thoughts. Elliot Smith has the latest on the weekend's sport. A new report from ASB shows clear signs of life for the economy in 2026, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen shares his thoughts. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on a man arrested on suspicion of assault after a number of people were sprayed with what is believed to be pepper spray at London's Heathrow Airport and four people have been arrested after custard and apple crumble were flung at a display case containing part of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exclusive interview: Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigned as the head of the Social Investment Agency this week, after a scathing report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority. . Coster and several other former senior officers were singled out for mishandling sexual misconduct complaints regarding former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who was subsequently found to be accessing child exploitation and bestiality images on his work computer. . Coster told Q+A's Jack Tame he was wrong to trust Jevon McSkimming but he always acted honestly and in good faith. He claims senior figures knew more about the McSkimming case than they have said publicly — something these parties dispute. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Andrew Coster has given his first interview on TVNZ's Q&A with Jack Tame since resigning from the public service. The former Police Commission resigned as head of the Social Investment Agency this week. He claimed in the pre-recorded interview two senior politicians knew more than they have publicly admitted about the handling of complaints against disgraced deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming Newstalk ZB's Political Reporter unpacked the interview with Francesca Rudkin and what the former top cop claimed, as well as Mariameno Kapa-Kingi being reinstated as a Te Pati Maori member. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 7 December 2025, for years it was believed Suzanne Vega's 'Luka' was about a young boy, this week she tells Francesca why, after 35 years, she finally admitted she is Luka. Kiwi band Castaway are a band on the rise, this week they perform their latest single 'Pretty Little Liar' in studio and talk about their breakout year. Andrew Coster has finally spoken out, ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths on Coster's version of events including his claims Ministers knew more than they have let on. And is garlic the next thing in mouth wash? Dr Michelle Dickinson explains. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Coster's exit should've been simple. Instead, we've ended up paying for a slow, messy departure that highlights everything broken about accountability inside the public service. Today we break down what really happened behind the scenes, how Coster fought to stay on full pay, and why his golden handshake feels like an insult to taxpayers and to the woman failed by police leadership. We dig into the IPCA findings, the culture that protected senior officers, and the decision to keep paying Coster even after the writing was on the wall. And the big question that should have everyone rattled: why has the door been left open for him to return? Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Politics Thursday this week Nick Mills was joined by Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Labour MP Kieran McAnulty. They discussed Minister Watts' announcement that councils' rates rise will be limited to 2% - 4%. Watts and McAnulty then hit the other big political news of the week including RMA reforms for Regional Councils, water reform and amalgamation. As well as public service payouts and Andrew Coster's resignation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Thursday on Newstalk ZB) The Things You Don't Want on Your Profile/Why You Can Never Have Another Job/Summer Is Too Long/Prizegivings Are Too Long/59 Is Nothing to CelebrateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says Andrew Coster's resignation from his high paying government job was the right thing to do. The former Police Commissioner has quit as head of the social investment agency. It follows a highly critical investigation into the police response to allegations of sexual offending against a woman by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Public Service Commissioner, Sir Brian Roche spoke to Lisa Owen. 

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 4th December, Sir Brian Roche discusses Andrew Coster's resignation from his new role over the McSkimming scandal. We've got a new ski deal with China that's set to bring in high value tourists. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson talk Oscar buzz on their new movie ‘Song Sung Blue', how easy their kiss was, and what Neil Diamond gave to each of them. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner says he believes former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is genuinely sorry, following his resignation as Social Investment Agency Head. Coster's accepted responsibility for shortcomings highlighted in an IPCA report on the handling of complaints against his then Deputy Jevon McSkimming. His final pay will be near $124 thousand. Sir Brian Roche told Mike Hosking Coster's always seemed genuine in all his experiences with him. He says Coster's very sincere and has real courage, and is confident what he says he believes, is true. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the end, I think Andrew Coster had to go. Look, you realize he's won a big victory today, don't you? Cause it's a big admission from the Public Service commissioner today that Andrew Coster didn't do anything wrong himself. He hadn't committed any personal wrongdoing and it's a big admission also that there was no cover-up. And the reason that it's a big admission is because of the number of times lots of ministers and also the new police commissioner went out there in media and said cover up, cover up, cover up, and then also in some cases said corruption. Now what I think this proves is exactly what I had intimated a few weeks ago. Yes, this was a scandal, but it was not the A plus plus plus plus plus plus scandal that these guys were kind of racking it up to be. That was politics. They wanted to play the game of the bad guys are out, we're the new guys, it's a new broom, that kind of thing. I didn't rate Andrew Coster as a police commissioner. I think he was rubbish at that job, but I always thought that he would be good at running the social investment agency because he's the kind of guy that likes the warm fuzzies and the early intervention, which is what the social investment agency was. It was never about hard policing. He was about warm fuzzies, the Social Investment agency is about warm fuzzies. So it is in a way a pity that the warm fuzzies guy cannot lead the warm fuzzies agency anymore. But ultimately, like Brian Roach said, he had to go because even though he did nothing wrong, the buck stopped with him at the police, and he made a series of bad calls that meant none of us could ever fully trust his judgment again. And he was going to be a political target. Who wants to be the minister or the government that protects the guy that protected Jevon McSkimming, even if he's the guy who didn't know that he was protecting the bad guy? And ultimately, we've probably got away lightly. I didn't want to have to pay him $124,000 but that was the low end of things. That was his notice period. It was probably the very least you could pay him. But count today as a small victory for Andrew Coster because he's cleared his reputation even if he's lost his job.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle Auckland councillor Maurice Williamson and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Andrew Coster has quit his role as CEO of the Social Investment Agency. He'll get paid three months notice, like a few other high profile servants who have recently "resigned". Are you uncomfortable that we're paying people out to quit rather than just sacking them? The school lunch drama between principal Peggy Burrows and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour continues. Who do you think is telling the truth here? Do you care at all? Half of us apparently drive around with lapsed car registrations and WOFs. Is your registration and WOF up to date? Is it too much admin? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigned from his position as CEO of the Social Investment Agency following an Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report into how police handled complaints against former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche said the result was 'appropriate', but shared positive experiences working with Coster. Roche told Heather du Plessis-Allan, "I believe him to be a person of integrity and very values-driven." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday the 4th of December 2025, Andrew Coster's resigned with immediate effect employment lawyer Gareth Abdinor shares his thoughts on why he was placed on leave for so long. Ikea opens in Auckland today, First Retail Group Managing Director tells Ryan whether the hype will last. Six60 and Synthony will play the first ever live show at Christchurch stadium, funded by the government's events fund, Duco Events promoter David Higgins tells Ryan what concert-goers can expect. Plus, US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on the US and Venezuela and the Kremlin saying it's wrong to suggest Putin rejected US proposals for peace in Ukraine. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Coster's three weeks of silence and negotiating speaks volumes about the sincerity of the apology delivered yesterday. If you really felt that way. If you hadn't until yesterday, realised what had gone on, which he had, of course, but he saw the report long before any of us did, then surely, you'd have come straight out starting blocks with an apology to Ms Z. Wouldn't that be a bit more credible? As for the government. They've obviously been trying to get him out without paying him too much. The bill is three months paid out. Essentially gardening leave. And, crucially, an statement from the government that thee was no cover-up. That's despite the IPCA report having the strong whiff of one, or as Judith Collins put it, the walk, talk and quack of one. Coster's obviously done the calls in his head. The longer you stay on and fight, the messier it gets, reputation-wise. He'll be thinking about the next job, whatever and wherever that may be. He strikes me as the sort of guy with a plan to maybe one day get into politics. Local cop boss. Top cop boss. New 'modern' approach to policing. A champion of progressive policing. That sort of resume would get you pretty close to the top of a left-leaning party pretty quickly, I would have thought. He's not stupid. But this scandal will rule him out of politics and pretty much all top public sector jobs in New Zealand, pretty much for life. As the Police Association boss told us yesterday on this programme, front-line officers are being taunted over this. Association with that sort of damage doesn't evaporate quickly. And the media culpa, the sorry, wasn't quick enough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper chats to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the Andrew Coster inquiry, and Tamatha Paul calling for the defunding of NZ Police. Soper denies Paul's concerns over race bias in arrests made by NZ Police. "I don't think there's racism in the Police at all," he said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The woman at the centre of the Jevon McSkimming scandal has called for an inquiry into Police culture. Commissioner Richard Chambers denied that the Police have culture issues. Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan that although a lack of values was shown by the previous commissioner, "you also had four very senior police officers that stood up with bravery and stuck to those police values and showed enormous integrity." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 17 November 2025, Transport Minister Chris Bishop explains why the Government is moving to make importing dirty cars cheaper. The Supreme Court has ruled that Uber drivers are employees, Anita Rosentreter from the Workers First Union speaks about the implications for drivers. Finance Minister Nicola Willis gives a very strong hint about next year's election date, and reveals when she found out that Andrew Coster was part of an IPCA investigation into disgraced Jevon McSkimming. MBIE's Ian Caplin explains what parents need to know about the magic sand asbestos warning. Plus, the Huddle debates polls that show Kiwis support for Labour's CGT and why the Government is rating so poorly in the latest Ipsos survey. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's discussion over Andrew Coster's future with the police following a bombshell report. An IPCA report came out earlier in the week, revealing senior police staff had failed to properly investigate a complaint against then-Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. The report implicated Coster, as well as other senior leaders. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan unpacked the ongoing discussions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills wraps the week with legendary broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and former minister Peter Dunne. They give their thoughts on the McSkimming IPCA report, Andrew Coster's involvement and how police culture is looking in New Zealand at the moment. Dunne and Sainsbury also discussed the other hot topics from the week like the new drug driving testing, Police Commissioner Chamber's speeding ticket admission, the new $30 million in funding to help deal with the meth crisis, the Te Pati Māori MP expulsion. Also are state-owned asset sales a good idea? Plus, Dunne and Sainsbury give their hots and nots for the week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A shocking report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority has revealed a litany of serious failings in the handling of complaints relating to the disgraced former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Not only were the complaints from a former lover diverted from the appropriate channels by senior leaders including former police boss Andrew Coster, the woman involved was arrested and prosecuted for harmful digital communications. The new commissioner and the police minister insist that it is a failure of a small group of senior leaders – “bad apples”, as Mark Mitchell put it – rather than something systemic or cultural. But, ask Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire, almost 20 years after the damning Margaret Bazley report that followed the Louise Nicholas case, is that explanation good enough? Plus: Parliament has two newly independent MPs, following the Te Pāti Māori National Council expelling Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Takuta Ferris “for breaches of Kawa (the Party's constitution)”. As the implosion in the party deepens, a number of questions remain unanswered. Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters are exchanging blows over asset sales – is this a fracture in the coalition, an exercise in nostalgia, or two bald men (apologies Mr Peters, this is very much a metaphor) fighting over a comb? And changes to the Zero Carbon Act were announced with zero fanfare – what does it mean for New Zealand climate action and Paris commitments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He was once considered a liberal darling and champion of progressive policing, now Andrew Coster's reputation and legacy are in tatters. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

"Everyone can see now just how bad it was". Those were the words of Police Minister Mark Mitchell who revealed that emails containing allegations about Jevon McSkimming's behaviour were kept from him by former police commissioner Andrew Coster's office. Coster is named in a scathing report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming. The report found a group of high-ranking police officers failed to properly act on accusations of sexual offending against McSkimming. Kate Green reports.

The Public Service Commissioner is saying little on the details of Andrew Coster's ongoing employment after his involvement in the Jevon McSkimming scandal. A scathing IPCA report has found the former Police Commissioner was among those in senior police leadership who failed to properly address sex allegations against the then Deputy Police Commissioner. Coster is now head of the Social Investment Agency. His employer, Sir Brian Roche, says an employment process is underway for Coster and can't mention details. But he told Mike Hosking someone can be let go for behaviour at a previous job. Roche says the key issue is whether the information would have been relevant at the time of employment. The Public Service Commissioner says a review into the employment process of Jevon McSkimming was a little unfair to the commission. The independent review has been released into McSkimming's reference and probity checks before his 2023 appointment as Deputy Police Commissioner. Last week he pleaded guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices. Sir Brian Roche says the review raised some valid points for improvements, which the commission is embracing. But he told Hosking it would have detected Jevon McSkimming's behaviour had it been given the right information from the right people. He says the man was living a double life which he was hiding from his family, his employer, and the Commission. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, I think we can all see how this is going to end for Andrew Coster, and we could see that last night - he's gonna lose his job running a Government agency. No one in charge can say that yet because of employment law, but it is absolutely going to happen - because there is no way that a man can do what he has done at the highest levels of police and then possibly continue to earn an income from the taxpayer. Him losing his job is the right outcome here. But here's the question that I think is up for debate - is Andrew Coster a bad man? Or was he just bad at his job, showing poor judgment, incompetence, naivety, whatever? And I'm going to suggest that it was actually the latter. He's not a bad man, he was just bad at his job. It doesn't seem like he did what he did because he wanted to hide what Jevon McSkimming had done, it sounded more like he tried to make it go away because he didn't believe that it was true. It sounds like he believed McSkimming was just the victim of a really bad breakup - he'd ended an affair, she hadn't taken it well and now she was trying to destroy his reputation online, and so Andrew Coster seemed to have thought, maybe what he needed to do was try to prevent these horrible lies from destroying the career of a good man. So he tried to hurry things up and shut things down and hide emails from ministers and not tell the people appointing the next Police Commissioner that there were complaints against McSkimming, and he got angry at police officers who tried to raise concerns. Except, as it turns out, Andrew Coster was wrong. Jevon McSkimming was not a good man, he was a creep. And that woman's allegations should have been listened to. She wasn't destroying the career of a good man, she was alerting authorities to a bad man. But Andrew Coster was a police officer, and it is 101 of policing to investigate allegations and listen to complaints, not shut them down, so he failed at the very basics of his job. And unfortunately for him, while he may not be a bad man, he ended up doing things that I think we can agree are bad things - misleading, shutting down good police wanting to raise concerns, protecting a creep. Now I don't know, is there really that much difference in the end between being a bad man and being someone who thinks they're doing the right thing - but doing bad things? For him, the outcome is actually pretty much the same, whether he was bad or bad at his job. He has lost his job and he's lost his reputation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Thursday 13th of November 2025, Sir Brian Roche is investigating Andrew Coster over the IPCA report. Watercare is set to pay a $1 million settlement to 10 oyster farmers affected by a sewage spill. FENZ is proposing to cut more than a hundred jobs, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons explains how it will impact firefighters. Plus US Correspondent Mitch McCann has the latest on new allegations from House Democrats that Donald Trump knew about Mr Epstein's illegal behaviour and the latest on the US government shutdown. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An employment expert says the Public Service Commission must undergo due process in its handling of Andrew Coster. A scathing IPCA report's found the former Police Commissioner was among those in senior police leadership who failed to properly address sex allegations against the then Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. McSkimming last week admitted to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material. Coster is now head of the Social Investment Agency and being investigated by his employer, the Public Service Commissioner. Max Whitehead told Ryan Bridge there must be just cause for termination. He says bringing the organisation into disrepute is a sackable offence. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A damning report into the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming reveals interference and cover-ups during the "Commissioner-appointment" process. The former Deputy Police Commissioner is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices. A watchdog report finds some of the nation's highest ranking officers ignored a young woman's anonymous complaints against McSkimming and prosecuted her for harassment. Gagging orders were put in place to ostensibly protect the reputation of McSkimming - who was a top candidate to replace outgoing Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. It has been revealed that emails regarding the subject were also sent to the office of Police Minister Mark Mitchell, but he was blocked from seeing them. “They put a protocol in place whereby I was not to have visibility on it, or any of my political staff, and they were going to be handled by PNHQ,” he told Mike Hosking. “So I had no visibility on any emails that I received, you know, that came through my office.” When asked who is the bigger criminal in this case, McSkimming for his behaviour or Costa for covering it up, Mitchell told Hosking they're as bad as each other. "It's atrocious behaviour,” he said. “They have put the rest of our outstanding police officers in an awful position – who turn up every day and quite simply do outstanding work.” The concern for Labour's Ginny Andersen is the impact this situation will have on public trust and confidence in the Police. “New Zealanders should have every confidence that if they take a complaint to the Police, that it is investigated fully,” she told Hosking. “It does erode public trust and confidence that taking a complaint forward will be taken seriously and investigated.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it is taking significant steps to improve police oversight after a damning IPCA report on the handling of complaints against former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming - before his recent trial. Instead of investigating anonymous complaints accusing McSkimming of being a sexual predator, police prosecuted the woman for digital harassment. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says the watchdog report made appalling reading - and showed a clear lack of leadership and integrity at the highest level. Last week, McSkimming pleaded guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on work devices NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage says the then-Commissioner, Andrew Coster, knew some details of the relationship. "Essentially, they've just accepted McSkimming's version of events, that this was an extra-marital affair that went wrong and this woman's out to get revenge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government says it is taking significant steps to improve police oversight after a damning IPCA report on the handling of complaints against former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Can Andrew Coster come back from this? The Government is set to roll out roadside drug tests from December. What do we make of this? Is this the right move? Prime Minister Chris Luxon and NZ First leader Winston Peters are clashing over the idea of asset sales ahead of next year's election? What do we think will come from this? US President Donald Trump is threatening to sue the BBC for over $1 billion over their misleading edit of his speech that appeared to encourage the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021. How much trouble is the BBC in? What does this mean for our trust in media? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whatever you thought of Andrew Coster as Police Commissioner, you probably felt you could trust him to do the right thing. To be upfront, honest, and certainly not hide stuff. And if you thought the attitude within the Police towards women had changed from what it used to be – well you might be having a bit of a re-think on both of those. Because I certainly am after this damning report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority on the way Police handled accusations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. It's become a bit of a cliche in recent times to describe reports as “damning”, but there's no doubt how damning this one is. It is so damning that we had the Police Minister and the current Police Commissioner doing a live media conference at six o'clock last night as soon as the report came out. And no wonder. Because, in my mind, this could prove to be one of New Zealand's biggest public sector scandals. And it tells me that despite all the talk from the Police after the experience of Louise Nicholas back in the 1980s with cops involved in sexual misconduct, it seems the memo about a culture change hasn't yet reached some of the top brass either still working there or who worked there until very recently. Including Andrew Coster. Let me quote a comment in the IPCA report from one of the country's most senior adult sexual assault investigators. Named in the report as “Officer D”, they said: “You know what's the worst thing – if you make a mistake, the only worse thing that you can do is then cover it up. You can paint all sorts of nice words but to an outsider looking in, and I mean even me, this looks like a cover-up." So what happened is Jevon McSkimming got into a relationship with a woman in her early 20s. He was in his early 40s. After that, she started writing dozens of emails to the police, accusing Deputy Commissioner McSkimming of being a sexual predator. But instead of investigating the allegations, the emails were used by police as evidence to prosecute her under the Harmful Digital Communications Act last year. All of that overseen by Andrew Coster. His successor, Richard Chambers, is livid. He says there were about five or six senior leaders in the Police —including Coster— who were responsible for what looks to me like a cover up. Some are still with the Police, others aren't. The Commissioner says these people were too quick to believe that the complainant was a spurned woman out for revenge. As for Andrew Coster, how ironic is this comment he made when he was commissioner? He said: “We rely on the support of most of the community to be successful and that depends on the way we operate and on the extent to which people feel that they can trust us and that what we're doing is appropriate.” Oh really? Coster, these days, is chief executive of the Government's Social Investment Agency. He's on leave at the moment. But now that we know what we know, should he be allowed to stay on the government payroll? I'm in no doubt that he shouldn't. Because he presided over what I think could prove to be one of New Zealand's biggest public sector scandals. And, for that reason and that reason alone, he should be toast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The revelation that the Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevon McSkimming was a predatory pervert was one thing. To find out that our most senior police officers were complicit in not only covering up his inappropriate behaviour, but then prosecuting, persecuting his victim is quite frankly horrifying. I knew, many of you knew, Andrew Coster was an ineffectual toadying eunuch. Does anyone remember his one and only hour in the studio when he spoke in slogans and was completely incomprehensible? I couldn't have been more delighted when Police Minister Mark Mitchell moved him on and replaced him with a proper cop, Richard Chambers. The fact that Jevon McSkimming came so close to the top job defies belief, given the accusations swirling around him. And he only came so close to the top job because Coster, Kura, de Wattignar, and Basham needed him to be in the top job to hide their moral and professional failures. This is absolutely appalling. McSkimming is a sick pervert. He needs help, professional help. The rest of them were just motivated by saving their sorry skins and were willing to throw a vulnerable young woman to the wolves to allow her to be prosecuted to save themselves. The young woman in question sent multiple emails to ministers, MPs, the media, she wrote on LinkedIn, she phoned the police complaints line. She might have appeared to be obsessive, but nothing makes a woman more unhinged than being gaslit, than being ganged up on, than being not believed. You can imagine McSkimming – ‘mate, she's a bunny boiler. Yeah, crazy'. If they were any sort of cops, any sort of people, they would know that is manipulation 101. Dismiss her as a lunatic. You know, confess, yes, what was I thinking? I was 40, she was 21. I shouldn't have had the affair, but, you know, I ended it and saw the error of my ways. And now she's trying to ruin my career. You've got to save me. You've got to help me. And they did. Not one of those former top cops, the very top cops in the country, ever thought to have a chat to her, or to get one of their staff to have a chat to her, to hear her side of the story. Did they not find it odd that McSkimming didn't say, look, talk to her, you'll see for yourself? No. Not only did they not do anything, they prosecuted her. They put her through hell. It's appalling, it's horrifying, it adds grist to Tamatha Paul's anti-police mill. Richard Chambers has a hell of a job ahead of him in rebuilding faith in the Police, and he knows that. “My job right now is to ensure that I take on board all the recommendations and work swiftly to put everything in place to ensure that this never happens again. “And, you know, in terms of other stuff out there, well, I only know what I know. I'm not aware of anything else, and God, I hope that's not the case because, you know, the people of New Zealand, when they reach out to New Zealand Police, deserve the best possible service they can get, and they need to be taken seriously. “And I've been very clear about that since I took over as the Commissioner. Our priority is supporting the frontline staff of my organisation who do this work day and night. And, and I'm really proud of that. And, you know, my focus now will be putting a new leadership team in place, and they will be working with me to help steer New Zealand Police, in the right direction and ensure that these appalling situations never happen again.” Oh, hello 2007. Police Commissioner Howard Broad, after the Royal Commission of Inquiry, after the ghastly Scholllum Shipton cover-up there. “I will now ask all serving members to join with me to make the changes necessary to prevent this sort of behaviour ever happening again. The work's already started. We're moving quickly on this. A draft code's been fully consulted. There'll be a reform of the 1958 Police Act”. At the heart of the issues looked at by the Commission of Inquiry has been abuses of power. Yes, policies, processes, and sanctions can only go so far. That's quite right. There were processes in place that were circumvented by these abusers. Abusers of the woman and abusers of power. What happens to people that they become like this? Coster's on the record as saying he entered the police because of his Christian faith, his Christian duty to serve. I feel for the good, honest men and women wearing the blue uniform who turn up to work every day trying to make New Zealand a better, safer community. They have been so badly let down by their bosses. But a number of them knew how hopeless Coster was. The number of texts and emails I received over the years that he was Commissioner were extraordinary. I'm not sure if they knew the depths to which he would go to save his skin and his salary, but they knew he was a wrong'un. They had a copper's nose to sniff out when something was wrong. I would love to hear from you on this one. I still trust the Police. I still back the Police. My faith in the Police hierarchy was shaken with Coster in the top role, and it's been absolutely rocked with the revelations of yesterday. With Richard Chambers as Commissioner, the ship has been righted. The oversight being introduced will help ensure corrupt officials won't be able to circumvent the processes designed to prevent and detect wrongdoing. But by bloody crikey, the Police will not be able to endure another scandal like this one, that's for sure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Leader is “absolutely disgusted” by the handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming by former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. The Police Complaints Authority has released a report finding some of our highest-ranking Police didn't deal properly with a woman's anonymous complaints against the former Deputy Police Commissioner. Hipkins is deeply disappointed in Coster, and believes the Police have a right to feel very disappointed in him as well. “Clearly he had standards that he needed to uphold as a Commissioner of Police, and he did not do that.” He says the frontline police, who go to work every day with high levels of integrity to serve the public and keep them safe have been badly, badly let down by the leadership. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is "on leave" from the Social Investment Agency following a damning report into the handling of the Jevon McSkimming case. The former Deputy Police Commissioner is awaiting sentence after last week pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices. The IPCA's report reveals senior leadership ignored anonymous allegations McSkimming was a sexual predator, and instead the woman was prosecuted for digital harassment. Survivors' advocate Louise Nicholas told Ryan Bridge Coster's role in this really makes her angry. She says he has a lot to answer for around this and he needs to front up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coster is a dead man walking at this point. Anyone not completely brainwashed during Covid could see there was something a bit off about him - this IPCA report is proof they were right. He knew about this so-called ‘affair' McSkimming had - the woman had worked for the Police. He didn't ask the questions he should have. He promoted McSkimming and didn't tell the people he should have told about dodgy stuff. Which makes it look, well, dodgier, doesn't it? In August, I asked Coster about McSkimming. No answers then, and still no answers now. We've asked to speak to him this morning, he's on leave. Nicola Willis gets tangled up in this, too. She recommended Coster for his current job. He's still got five years on his contract. She says she's appalled, but she can't fire him. That's a job for Brian Roche. I don't think there's any doubt he's going to get the sack, unless he resigns first. The whole thing is an absolute cluster. In a big government job like Police Commissioner, you've got to cross the t's and dot the i's. It's a $700k job. Coster wasn't up to the job. And if he doesn't quit his current one, it's only a matter of time now before it's taken from him. The clock for Coster is now ticking. And for the frontline, sadly, respect and integrity takes a lifetime to earn and moment to lose. They're the ones who'll cop the backlash. They're the ones who have to actually talk to real people everyday. As of 6 o'clock last night, their jobs just became a lot harder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 16th of May, yet another pre-Budget announcement – $275 million for the new Social Investment Agency headed up by Andrew Coster. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters laments the declining standards of Parliament and politicians. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk a new product from Fonterra, Mike's endless golf stories, and whether Mike's a bully or not as they Wrap the Week. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.