Once upon a time we took for granted a culture of honesty and trust, diligence and reliability, certainly respect, until diversity overtook virtue. Diversity is a cancer devouring healthy cells, eating away common sense. Anything goes and previously lauded attributes can no longer be taken for granted.
A recent and reprehensible example of diversity plaguing cultural values is found in the the venerable, the most fundamental applicators of the law – the police. The search began last September to replace Police Commissioner Mike Bush who retires next month.
The State Commission closed off applications for the role on 13 October last year and were expected to give their recommendation to the Minister of Police to run it past the Greens and NZ First before it went to Cabinet for approval. The appointment process took far longer than anticipated and the selection of Andy Coster this week came as a surprise.
“The Commissioner will officially be appointed for a three-year term by the Governor-General on the recommendation of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Nash and Ardern will want someone who can deliver the Government’s policy of hiring 1800 new police officers, which they are currently struggling to meet.Other requirements will be to deliver on important Government priorities such as reducing Maori offending and the focus on gangs and organised crime.
Ensuring the implementation of the firearms reform goes smoothly, will also be a big part of the job.”
Stuff
Candidates were weighed up against a diversity test rather than their ability to address issues of concern. Never forget, the NZ police has diversity quotas to meet.
“The police target for the recruitment of women is 50 per cent but the current recruitment percentage is 37 per cent.
For Maori, the target is 25 per cent, while the current recruitment percentage is 18 per cent.
Almost half of the country’s district commanders are women but only three of the assistant commissioners are female — and could be contenders.”
Maori female district commander Tusha Penny was touted a strong candidate, ticking not one but two diversity boxes. Two other female assistant commissioners, Road Policing and Prevention Assistant Commissioner Sandra Venables and Districts Assistant Commissioner, Lauano Sue Schwalger each ticked one box.
Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha ticked the Maori box but was scratched when the Independent Police Conduct Authority “found he humiliated and intimidated two women staffers. It found his behaviour in relation to the pair was inappropriate and unprofessional but did not meet the official definition of bullying. Haumaha was found to have acted improperly in trying to discredit one of the women who complained about him.” Not bullying, but conduct unbecoming. Bummer and possibly cost Wally a $700k a year pay packet.
Not to worry, still in the running were the women and three pale males – Deputy Commissioner Andy Coster, National Operations Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement and Serious and Organised Crime Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers.
The more experienced Clement was widely considered the front runner until being rejected after allegedly interfering not once, but twice, in police appointments.
“The Maori Council says it will file a Supreme Court injunction if Mike Clement is selected to be the country’s next Police Commissioner, Marc Daalder reports.
In the latest development in the brouhaha surrounding the selection process for Police Commissioner Mike Bush’s replacement, Maori Council executive director Matt Tukaki says he will sue to keep Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement from the top job.
Clement reportedly stepped in to oppose the appointment of Hamish McCardle to a plum police role in Hong Kong less than twelve months after McCardle was demoted in relation to allegations of inappropriate sexual comments.”
It wasn’t Clement’s opposition to McCardle’s appointment that got the Maori Council’s knickers in a knot, it was his alleged interference to knock Maori candidate Wally Haumaha out of the race.
“Now, Tukaki says he’s coming at Clement from a different angle entirely: the official’s work on Police-Maori relations. Tukaki alleges Clement smeared Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha during Haumaha’s own scandal, including by speaking to reporters at the Herald and sexual assault victims advocate Louise Nicholas.”
Newsroom
Out of the original seven candidates for the top police job two candidates were dropped due to unacceptable behaviour. This at the top of the police tree, no less. What on earth does the Minister of Police make of it? Is he bothered by the high fallout rate within the top echelon of police, and is unacceptable behaviour evident further down police ranks?
Instead of uniting us, diversity does the very opposite, dividing us into factions, each faction studiously protecting its own territory in the erroneous belief that no one else can do it as well as they can. They think they are better placed by virtue of their diversity. Gone are the commonsense qualities of trust and dependability, ethics and compassion. Diversity has much to answer for.