Key Takeaways:
- A quarter of New Zealanders have little or no trust in the police, according to a recent RNZ-Reid Research poll.
- The recent Jevon McSkimming scandals did not significantly impact trust levels, with 51.3% of respondents saying the scandals had no effect on their trust.
- Trust in the police is lowest among left-leaning voters, with 48.2% of Te Pāti Māori supporters and 44.1% of Green supporters saying they have little or no trust.
- Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Commissioner Richard Chambers have acknowledged the need for improvement, with Chambers setting a goal of reaching 80% trust in the police.
- There is a significant gap in trust between Māori and non-Māori communities, with Māori communities expressing lower trust levels due to historical and systemic issues.
Introduction to the Poll
A recent RNZ-Reid Research poll has revealed that a quarter of New Zealanders have little or no trust in the police. The poll, which was conducted from January 15-22, 2026, asked 1000 people about their level of trust in the police and whether the recent scandals involving former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming had impacted their trust. The results show that 20.7% of respondents have a lot of trust in the police, while 50.5% have a fair amount of trust. However, 20.2% said they had "not much" trust, and 5.7% said they had no trust at all.
The McSkimming Scandals
The McSkimming scandals have been a major factor in the recent scrutiny of the police. Former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming pleaded guilty to possessing objectionable publications, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality material. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) also found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police, including former Commissioner Andrew Coster, over how police responded to accusations of sexual offending by McSkimming. The scandals have raised questions about the culture and accountability within the police force, and have led to calls for transformational change in the justice space.
Impact on Trust
Despite the scandals, the poll found that 51.3% of respondents said the McSkimming scandals had not impacted their trust in the police. However, 36.1% said their trust had been affected, and 10.4% said they did not know. Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was pleased that the scandals had not significantly shifted the dial on trust levels, but acknowledged that the police had to continually look for improvement. Commissioner Richard Chambers also said that trust and confidence were an "absolute priority" given the events, and had set a goal of reaching 80% trust in the police.
Community Trust
The poll also highlighted significant gaps in trust between different communities. Te Pāti Māori co-leaders were unsurprised that their voters had the lowest trust levels, citing historical and systemic issues such as over-monitoring, over-arresting, and disproportionate imprisonment rates for Māori. The Greens’ co-leader Marama Davidson also acknowledged the systemic rot across departments, including police, especially when it comes to survivors of violence and abuse. Commissioner Chambers acknowledged that there was "a lot of work to do across all communities" to build trust, but said that he was motivated to work hard to address these issues.
Response from Politicians
Politicians from different parties have responded to the poll results, with some calling for transformational change in the justice space. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said that politicians from all parties needed to show leadership and propose real independent reviews after incidents such as the shootings in Taranaki. Labour’s Chris Hipkins said that the McSkimming case did not reflect the police as a whole, but acknowledged that the police leadership had let down the public and serving police officers. The Greens’ co-leader Marama Davidson said that the McSkimming scandals highlighted a problem that stretched beyond one person and one police officer, and required a systemic response.
Conclusion
The RNZ-Reid Research poll highlights the need for the police to rebuild trust with the public, particularly with Māori and left-leaning communities. While the McSkimming scandals did not significantly impact trust levels, they have raised important questions about the culture and accountability within the police force. Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Commissioner Richard Chambers have acknowledged the need for improvement, and have set goals to increase trust in the police. However, addressing the systemic issues and historical grievances that underlie the trust gap will require a sustained effort and commitment to transformational change in the justice space.
