Little Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 22 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12750. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]5.ANDREW LITTLE (Labour)to theMinister of Justice: What action will she take in light of the revelations on a television programme last night that Malcolm Rewa was identified to police as a suspect in a rape in 1988 which turned out to be the first of 25 rapes committed by him over seven years including the 1992 rape of Susan Burdett who Teina Pora was convicted of murdering?Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice):I have been advised this morning by the Independent Police Conduct Authority that an online form was submitted to the authority on 6 August 2013 2 weeks ago lodging a complaint about the failure of police to find a serial rapist operating in Auckland in 1992. I was advised that the Independent Police Conduct Authority declined to investigate the matter. I have this morning written to the authority asking for its urgent advice as to the reasons for its declining to investigate.Andrew Little: What does the Minister make of section 4AB of the Independent Police Conduct Authority Act which requires the authority to act independently including of Ministers and what real action will she take to ensure that the truth is found out for the benefit of the victims of this rapist?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I make a lot of the independence of the Independent Police Conduct Authority actually which is why I have taken the very unusual step of asking whether it could provide me as the Minister responsible for it the reasons. This is a matter that one would normally expect would be passed to the Independent Police Conduct Authority since it was set up in 2007 from the remnants of the Police Complaints Authority and following the inquiry that Dame Margaret Bazley led into police conduct. So one would expect that it is the right authority; if not I would like to know that from the Independent Police Conduct Authority and if not then I will look at other action.Andrew Little: Does the Minister seriously believe that writing to the Independent Police Conduct Authority to ask why it has declined to investigate a complaint is the appropriate action given that a gross injustice may have occurred to Teina Pora and to 25 women who have been raped one of whom has been murdered? How on earth can she possibly see that that is a serious response to this very serious situation?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Because as that member has already pointed out the Independent Police Conduct Authority has statutory independence from Ministers as well as from the police. I would also advise that member that I understand that the authority will be putting out a press release if it has not already done so where it is stated that the authority is currently reflecting on all the issues that have now been raised relating to this matter.Andrew Little: Does the Minister now accept that an appeal by Teina Pora to the Privy Council is no barrier to an inquiry given that an inquiry into the Pike River Coal tragedy took place while a police investigation into the same issue was under way and while prosecutions were being pursued under the relevant health and safety legislation in that particular case?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I do not agree with the member in all of his assertions. It is quite clear that Mr Pora has now lodged an application for leave to appeal to the Privy Council. As such it would be most incorrect for there to be an inquiry into matters pertaining to him. However from the other matters that have been raised about the rapist Rewa it does not seem to me that they are all necessarily matters that relate to Mr Pora. That seemed to me to be something that we should be concerned about.Andrew Little: Why will the Minister not accept that this is a very grave situation and that an appeal by Pora to the Privy Council does not cover the issues that a proper inquiry into the whole situation of the police investigation of how a rapist was able to continue his foul and evil acts for 7 years would? Why will she not simply give confidence to the victims of this chap and set up an inquiry?Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well the member is getting way ahead of himself. If he would just listen to what I have said to him it is quite clear. I will not—Andrew Little: Stop making excuses.Hon JUDITH COLLINS: He either wants to listen or he does not. What is really important is that the constitutional conventions are actually adhered to. What we have here is a situation where Mr Pora has lodged an application to the Privy Council and I will not go into that matter of Mr Pora while it is still a live application. However in relation to the rapist Rewa there are 25 women who have claimed that they have been raped by Rewa. That is another matter and that is why I have asked the Independent Police Conduct Authority to advise me why it has so far refused to investigate this matter.Andrew Little: That’ll be that independent body.Hon JUDITH COLLINS: And because it is in fact an independent body.