Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader on Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo standing for Labour, policy announcement

The Labour Leader is disappointed by how things are playing out for the senior police officer who’s chosen to run for Parliament. 

Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo —the Police’s national partnerships manager— has been revealed as the 13th ranked candidate on Labour’s list. 

Commissioner Richard Chambers says he only learned of Naidoo’s candidacy on Sunday afternoon, and his position is now untenable.  

Chris Hipkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he’s disappointed for Naidoo, who’s done everything right. 

He says he acted with the utmost integrity through the process, and has worked very hard to preserve the political independence of the police. 

Hipkins also says Labour won't be making any announcement about tax this week. 

The party leader revealed his candidate list yesterday. 

Newcomer Kingi Kiriona suggested Labour could be releasing policy on tax relief in the coming days. 

But Hipkins told du-Plessis Allan Kiriona misspoke, and the policy is actually about cost-of-living relief. 

While he can't reveal the details just yet, he can confirm it will have an impact on households. 

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