GUEST BLOG: Jackie Foster – Watchdog or Lapdog? Time to Reassess the IPCA’s Role in New Zealand’s Democracy

In a democracy, oversight is not optional, it’s essential. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) was created to ensure that New Zealand Police are held to account for misconduct, abuse of power, and systemic failures. But when only 2% of complaints are independently investigated, and 6% are handed back to Police for internal review, the question must be asked: Is the IPCA truly independent, or has it become a symbolic institution propped up by political convenience?

The Numbers Don’t Lie—But the Silence Is Deafening

The IPCA receives thousands of complaints annually, yet the vast majority are dismissed, declined, or redirected. In 2024 alone, 4,695 complaints were received. Only 1% were investigated independently, while 74% were declined outright. These figures are not just statistics, they represent real people, real grievances, and a system that appears structurally incapable of responding.

This is not a matter of bureaucratic inefficiency. It is a political failure—a failure of successive governments to fund, empower, and reform the IPCA into a body that can genuinely hold Police to account.

Underfunded and Overwhelmed

The IPCA operates on a budget of approximately $6.9 million, a fraction of the $2.2 billion allocated to New Zealand Police. With only 48 staff, the Authority is dwarfed by the Police’s 14,000-strong workforce. This imbalance is not accidental, it reflects a governmental reluctance to invest in oversight, preferring to maintain the appearance of accountability without the substance.

Even when the IPCA received a one-off funding boost to investigate the Parliament protest, it was a reactive measure, not a strategic commitment to systemic reform.

Independence in Name Only?

Despite being a Crown Entity, the IPCA is not subject to the Official Information Act (OIA). This exemption undermines transparency and shields the Authority from public scrutiny. It also raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to open justice.

The Authority’s ex Chair, Judge Colin Doherty, even acknowledged that the IPCA is “toothless, legislatively” and lacks prosecutorial powers. He has called for the IPCA to answer directly to Parliament, not the government, to ensure true independence. Yet, no meaningful legislative action has followed.

 

Holding the Government to Account

The current government must answer for its inaction. It has failed to:

• Increase baseline funding to match the scale of complaints.
• Legislate for prosecutorial powers or structural independence.
• Bring the IPCA under the OIA, limiting public access to information.
• Respond to civil liberties concerns, including accusations of overreach and secrecy.

If the government continues to sidestep reform, it risks eroding public trust—not just in the IPCA, but in the democratic institutions it claims to uphold.

A Call for Reform

New Zealanders deserve more than a ceremonial watchdog. They deserve an IPCA that is:

• Fully independent, answering to Parliament.
• Adequately funded, with resources to investigate meaningfully.
• Transparent, subject to the same accountability mechanisms as other Crown Entities.
• Empowered, with the ability to prosecute and enforce its findings.

The time for polite suggestions has passed. The government must act or be held accountable for its failure to protect the integrity of police oversight.

 

Jackie Foster

CEO

Social Justice Aotearoa