I would have sacked Andrew Coster if he hadn't quit, Sir Brian Roche says

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says he would've sacked former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster "if I had to". He's also revealed Coster will receive three months pay as part of his contract, about $130,000. RNZ revealed on Wednesday Coster had resigned as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency after the Independent Police Conduct Authority's damning report into police's response to allegations of sexual offending by former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. In an interview with RNZ, Sir Brian was asked if Coster's role was untenable. "His role would have been very, very challenging, and that was the matter that we were working through. I never had to get to the end, because he decided, for professional and personal reasons, to offer his resignation, which I have accepted. That is in his best interest, and I believe it to be in my best interest." He said he would have sacked Coster "if I had to". Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone "But I didn't have to. It's a theoretical thing, because he did the right thing. He exercised the accountability that I would expect of a public sector chief executive." Do you know more? Email sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz Coster was placed on leave following the IPCA's report last month. Sir Brian said the pair had been engaged in conversations around his employment over the last three weeks. "I had a number of questions that I needed to be satisfied on as to his ability to continue in his current role. Those questions came up from the IPCA. I had a number of them, as do many other people, I had the opportunity to put those directly to him and listen to his response, and I've done that without any level of predetermination, and as best as I could an open mind." The two men had a number of meetings in person and online. "I was negotiating under my employment contract with him about his ability to perform the tasks that he had been recruited for as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, all of the matters I thought relevant to that were considered in the process, and they were considered in my satisfaction to the point that he decided to offer his resignation, which I have accepted." Asked if there was ever a discussion about Coster returning to work, Sir Brian said "all options remained on the table". He said that it became apparent in his engagement with Coster last week that he was intending to resign. "We have been engaged for three weeks in a process around employment. It was backwards and forwards between us. I had to make a decision. He had to make a decision, and all options were on the table. He took a view late last week that it was his intention to resign. I respect that, and we finalized that over the last few days." Sir Brian said Coster's apology to those affected, including police and the woman who raised allegations about McSkimming was "extremely honourable". "I'm not sure what more he can do." Asked what Coster told him, Sir Brian said he acknowledged he realised after reading the IPCA report "how extensive the failures had been". "And although the IPCA found no evidence of corruption or collusion, if you look at it, there were failures in the systems, the processes and the delegations. And he was accountable for that. He's accepted that accountability." Sir Brian said he was "really disappointed at a personal level that we've had to do this". "It's been a very challenging process that needed to be done, but it's had very high consequences for a person who, in his current role, was performing well, and the fact that he's accepted accountability and responsibility speaks volumes for his values." He said no concerns had been raised with him about Coster's leadership while at SIA. Asked if he believed Coster should have got the job in the first place, Sir Brian said he believed he was "very well qualified for that role". "He had done a good role, but we've got to the point we have, and that is the way it is. I think it's a very sad day for him and his family." Speaking to Checkpoint, Sir Brian said he did not encourage Coster to resign. Asked if he had lost confidence in Coster at the point he handed in his resignation, Sir Brian said he had got to the point where he did not believe it was going to be possible for him to continue in his role. "But he decided to resign, and I respect that decision. It was the right thing for him. It was a difficult thing for him and his family, and I respect that." Sir Brian said the payout Coster was receiving was "not a golden handshake". "This is nothing. He is getting his contractual entitlement. And I think it's worth reminding people he has paid a very significant price for the errors that he has owned up to at the New Zealand Police force. This is a person who has given 40 years of service to the public. His career has taken considerable damage." Asked if he felt Coster had been hard done by, Sir Brian said he felt "very sorry for...

I would have sacked Andrew Coster if he hadn't quit, Sir Brian Roche says

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I would have sacked Andrew Coster if he hadn't quit, Sir Brian Roche says

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