Willie Jackson has accused police minister Mark Mitchell of politically targeting senior police officer and newly-announced Labour candidate Rakesh Naidoo.

The senior Labour Party MP says the criticism is driven by fear of debate rather than genuine concerns about policing integrity.

“Mark is scared that National’s tough on crime rhetoric will get taken to pieces by a former Superintendent,” Jackson said in a Facebook post on June 9.

Jackson said Mitchell was “so desperate to smear Rakesh” that he was making unfounded suggestions about the handling of sensitive information.

“He’s trying to suggest he’s seen sensitive Government policy which is garbage,” Jackson wrote, saying National was deliberately avoiding a substantive policy debate.

“National need to stop attacking the person and debate the issues,” he said. “Kiwis want to feel safe from crime but also from the causes of crime.”

Jackson also framed the row as part of a broader political strategy by National, saying Mitchell was lashing out because Labour had selected a former senior police officer with frontline credibility.

“Because all Mark Mitchell knows how to do is punish, he’s lashing out trying to attack a former Police Superintendent of outstanding service,” he wrote.

He added that he hoped the public was paying attention to what he described as an unfair attack on Naidoo.

“I hope Kiwis are taking note of this attack on a great cop who deserves to be treated so much better than the rubbish that is being dished out to him now.”

The comments come amid escalating political tension over Naidoo’s transition from a senior cop and national partnerships manager for ethnic, iwi and communities, to Labour’s number 13 list candidate – a ranking that makes him highly likely to enter Parliament.

The announcement has triggered scrutiny over disclosure, timing, and whether a senior police officer engaging with a political party creates a conflict of interest.

Police commissioner Richard Chambers has described Naidoo’s position within the organisation as “untenable” and has ordered a review into the timeline of his engagement with Labour.

“We need to ensure the integrity and political neutrality of the police is beyond question,” Chambers said.

Police minister Mark Mitchell has raised concerns about whether proper boundaries were maintained, saying the issue goes beyond Naidoo’s right to stand for politics.

“This is about public confidence in the police,” Mitchell said. “We must be certain that there is no perception of political involvement while serving in such a senior role.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has defended Naidoo, saying he followed appropriate process and acted properly once he made his decision to enter politics.

“He has done everything by the book,” Hipkins said. “Once he made a decision, he informed his employer. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing.”

Former Labour leader Phil Goff has also weighed in strongly, criticising both the minister and the commissioner for questioning Naidoo’s integrity without evidence.

“It’s a disgrace that the Minister of Police asked whether Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo might have leaked sensitive information,” Goff said. “Without even a skerrick of evidence, these actions question his integrity.”

Goff pointed to historical examples of senior public servants transitioning into politics, arguing they were not met with similar allegations or public questioning of integrity.

He cited Don Brash, who resigned as the governor of New Zealand's central bank to contest as a National Party candidate. At the time, Goff noted, Brash’s departure was not accompanied by accusations of compromised integrity.

Goff said senior Labour leader of the time, Michael Cullen, publicly thanked Brash for his service as governor rather than criticising his integrity during the transition.

He also referred to Tim Groser, a senior diplomat and former New Zealand ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, who left that role before entering Parliament for the National Party.

“Time for the Commissioner and the Minister to grow up and stop the personal attacks,” Goff said.