“THE UNTOUCHABLES: How Roche and Coster Built a Golden Exit on the Ashes of a Victim” - 3 December 2025

The “Controlled Experiment” is Rigged

The theatre of public service accountability has reached a new low. Sir Brian Roche, the Public Service Commissioner, claims he has upheld standards by accepting the resignation of Andrew Coster. He told the media that he would have sacked Andrew Coster if he hadn’t quit. This is a carefully crafted illusion.

In reality, this is a masterclass in protecting the establishment while the vulnerable continue to bleed. Andrew Coster walks away with a “golden handshake” of three months’ pay—likely exceeding $100,000—while the woman he failed, known only as “Ms Z,” remains in the dock, facing criminal charges for daring to be angry at the system that ignored her.

I trace the whakapapa of this failure not just to incompetence, but to a deliberate network of protection that insulates the powerful from the consequences of their own hara (sins).

Background: The Blue Wall of Silence

To understand the betrayal, we must look back. In 2016, Jevon McSkimming, a senior police leader in his 40s, began a sexual relationship with a 21-year-old subordinate. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) found significant failings in how Police handled this, with senior leadership accepting McSkimming’s narrative that the victim was merely a “scorned lover”.

For years, Ms Z tried to raise the alarm. She was ignored. Desperate and traumatised, she sent angry emails to the very leaders who were silencing her. Instead of investigating her claims, the Police machine turned its gears on her, launching a criminal investigation into her communications.

Today, the man who oversaw this culture of denial, Andrew Coster, has resigned from his new role as CEO of the Social Investment Agency. But he leaves with his pockets full, while Ms Z is still facing charges of harassing another officer.

Deconstruction: Whakama vs. The Payout

In Te Ao Māori, utu is about balance. When harm is done, balance must be restored.

Here, the scales are deliberately tipped.

• The Perpetrator: Jevon McSkimming was allowed to resign, likely keeping his superannuation and avoiding the full force of a disciplinary dismissal.
• The Enabler: Andrew Coster admits he “got this wrong” regarding the grooming allegations. His punishment? A negotiated exit and a payout sanctioned by Sir Brian Roche.
• The Victim: Ms Z receives no payout. Instead, she receives a criminal record and the ongoing trauma of state prosecution.

The Unequal Scales

Analysis: 5 Hidden Connections Revealed

My research uncovers five critical points where the system actively conspired to protect itself:

1. The “Operation Herb” Retaliation: While Coster was “trusting” McSkimming, his officers were weaponizing the Harmful Digital Communications Act against Ms Z. This legislation, designed to protect victims from cyberbullying, was used to prosecute a victim calling for help, as reported by 1News.
2. The “Social Investment” Hypocrisy: Coster was appointed to lead the Social Investment Agency, a body dedicated to using data to predict risk for vulnerable New Zealanders. Yet, he failed to detect the predator sitting in the office next to him. If he cannot read the data of his own deputy, how can he be trusted with the whakapapa of our whānau?
3. The Roche Protection Racket: Sir Brian Roche frames the payout as a contractual necessity. This is false. By allowing a resignation instead of pursuing a dismissal for cause, Roche chose “stability” over accountability. He admits he was negotiating under the employment contract rather than enforcing ethical standards.
4. The Golden Parachute Value: While the exact figure is hidden, a Chief Executive of a core agency earns between $400k-$600k. A three-month payout is likely $100,000 - $150,000. That is more than most whānau earn in two years, paid to a man for failing to do his job.
5. The “Honourable” Fallacy: Roche described Coster’s resignation as “extremely honourable”. There is no honour in taking a payout while your victim stands trial. This language attempts to restore Coster’s mana at the expense of the truth.

The Fortress.

Implications: The Cost of Silence

The financial cost is the least of our worries. The true cost is the message sent to every wāhine Māori, every survivor, and every whistleblower: “If you speak up against the Blue Brotherhood, we will not just ignore you; we will hunt you.”

We are witnessing a mauri-depleting event of the highest order. The institution feeds on the silence of victims to maintain its own facade of integrity.

The Challenge.

Drop the Charges

True Rangatiratanga is not about titles or payouts; it is about protecting the people. Andrew Coster has left the building, but the rot remains.

My demands are simple:

1. Police must immediately drop all charges against Ms Z. The prosecution is an obscenity.
2. Coster should donate his payout to survivor support networks.
3. An independent inquiry into the use of the Harmful Digital Communications Act against whistleblowers.

The Taiaha of truth has struck the ground. The vibration must shake the foundations of those who hide behind the badge.

Ivor Jones The Māori Green Lantern Fighting Misinformation And Disinformation From The Far East