But Naidoo, via a Labour spokesperson, said the approach from the party had nothing to do with him no longer texting Mitchell and “the messages tailed off as police work priorities and engagement changed”.
Screenshots of the messages run to more than 240 pages.
The majority are photos Naidoo has taken of Mitchell at events, but also include invites to football games and a wedding reception, a happy birthday message, and a multiparagraph “personal message” alongside 20 photos Naidoo sent while on leave, telling Mitchell how he spent a holiday in Africa.
Football invites, ‘happy birthday’ text and holiday photos
The messages were obtained under the Official Information Act (OIA), after a request for all communication with Naidoo over all messaging platforms.
The messages began in January 2025, the same week Mitchell was given the Ethnic Communities and Sport and Recreation portfolios in a Cabinet reshuffle.
At the time, Naidoo was police’s ethnic, iwi and communities national partnerships manager. He was not on the police executive.
“A personal and private message to congratulate you and your family,” Naidoo wrote. “This is a genuine opportunity for our communities and people.”
Mitchell didn’t reply.
The following month, Naidoo sent Mitchell multiple photos he took of him at events.
On March 20, Naidoo invited Mitchell to the All Whites’ Fifa World Cup qualifier match against New Caledonia.
Mitchell didn’t reply, and Naidoo offered again.
“If you or our PM needs tickets for Monday nights [sic] playoff final, let me know. You will be hosted in the main NZF [NZ Football] lounge.”
Mitchell apologises for not being able to make it, and Naidoo sends Mitchell score updates from the game.
Some of the texts between Rakesh Naidoo and Mark Mitchell in 2025.
Later that month, Naidoo sent Mitchell photos from a Wellington Phoenix charity game.
Between April 5 and 15, Naidoo sent Mitchell more than 30 messages, mostly of photos from events the pair attended as well as an event marking the release of a police religious diversity policy.
On April 16, Naidoo invited Mitchell to another football game, this time the Wellington Phoenix’s final home match of the year. Mitchell didn’t reply.
On game day, Naidoo sent Mitchell a photo of him with the Phoenix mascot.
“Great crew, and love the yellow shoes,” Mitchell replied.
Rakesh Naidoo and Mark Mitchell’s text message exchange over a Wellington Phoenix match.
On May 22, Naidoo sent Mitchell a birthday message.
“May you continue to be blessed with a loving family, good health, joy and success. Your service to NZ is truly appreciated, Enjoy your special day,” Naidoo wrote.
In July, Naidoo asked Mitchell to attend a welcome event for Welsh football team Wrexham United at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt.
“If you need a lift to Upper Hutt in the morning, happy to drive you there and back,” Naidoo said.
Mitchell declined and said he was stuck in Cabinet committees.
Naidoo then asked Mitchell if he’d like to attend the game five days later.
“Unfortunately I’ll be in Nelson with the PM working on recovery,” Mitchell said.
On the day of the match, Naidoo texted again.
“Just a thought if your partner is in Wellington tomorrow. [redacted] my partner is also at the game and can bring her along and keep her company.”
Mitchell replied two days later, saying it would’ve been great but he couldn’t make it.
“Fully understand. Currently at [redacted]’s wedding reception in Auckland. If you are in Auckland, come over with your partner.”
Mitchell didn’t reply.
Over the following months, Naidoo again sent Mitchell multiple photos from various events.
On February 3 this year, Naidoo sent Mitchell a lengthy message and 20 photos detailing his activities over the summer break.
“Sincerely hope you and your family are well. I was thinking of you as I am having a wonderful summer break filled with sport, family and friends – in my private capacity.”
Naidoo detailed football and cricket events he attended, as well as catch-ups with members of South Africa football’s governing body.
He ended the message: “I am now with my mum and family for a couple more weeks before starting back at work on 16 February. All the very best to you and your family for your year ahead. Sport, Community and Policing is more important than ever.”
Mitchell didn’t reply.
The final messages from Naidoo were a series of photos sent on February 28 this year from the Albany Lantern Festival.
‘My phone number is available’ – Mitchell
Last month, Naidoo told RNZ he was first approached by Labour to consider standing as a candidate in February.
Asked why he didn’t declare that to police at the time, Naidoo said it was “very much a hypothetical”.
“As soon as I had formed an intent and wanted to make a decision, police were the first to know.”
That same month was the final time Naidoo texted Mitchell.
Newstalk ZB sent a series of questions to Naidoo, via Labour’s campaign manager Beth Houston, asking if a potential candidacy led to him ceasing contact.
In a statement, Houston said: “The messages tailed off as police work priorities and engagement changed. This is in no way related to Rakesh’s conversations with the Labour Party.”
Mitchell said: “I’m not going to speculate. That’s a question for Rakesh Naidoo.”
Over the period the texts were sent, while he was a senior officer, Naidoo wasn’t on the police executive.
Asked if it’s unusual to be in touch with non-executive police officers, Mitchell said: “I don’t receive regular contact from senior police officers outside of established processes, however, my phone number is available and it’s not unusual for people to be in touch with me from time to time.”
Houston said: “Rakesh Naidoo was in frequent contact with the Police Minister due to the nature of his role, which was focused on engaging with ethnic communities, and supporting the Police Minister to do so. Most of the messages were photographs related to the engagements for the minister’s office’s use.”
While the messages appear to show a friendly relationship between the pair, Mitchell criticised Naidoo for not sharing details of his candidacy earlier when he was revealed as a candidate on June 8.
Mitchell said at the time he’d recently attended events with Naidoo, who had been privy to sensitive information.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers subsequently launched an investigation into whether Naidoo had leaked sensitive information while in discussions with Labour.
Naidoo was cleared of any wrongdoing in communications with Labour.
He also received an apology from his former supervisor, Assistant Commissioner Tim Anderson, after Chambers said he only became aware in early June that Naidoo was considering standing for Labour, despite Anderson having been informed weeks earlier.
Supporters of Naidoo, including former Race Relations Commissioners, defended his integrity amid the investigation, claiming Mitchell’s criticism was politically motivated and he was working in tandem with Chambers.
Last month, Mitchell claimed there was still an “ongoing matter” related to Naidoo.
Mitchell said he had no problem with Naidoo and he acknowledged and respected his police service.
“That is not the issue, the issue is about how things were done and I haven’t resolved from that [sic], I haven’t moved off that, and that is still my position,” he said.
Mitchell disagreed when asked about police clearing Naidoo of any wrongdoing.
“No, they haven’t done that at all, there’s two or three different facets to this situation, they have dealt with one of them.”
Mitchell would not share what the other issues were.
“You would have seen that under the OIA, there was a release that said under section 6c, there’s some information that can’t be disclosed, so if you guys had taken notice of that, you would have seen that there may be another matter that is still ongoing,” he said.
“The OIA is very clear, it says there’s matters that can’t be disclosed because there’s an ongoing matter.
“I can’t comment or say anything more than that,” he said.
In response, Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Mitchell “has crossed a line”.
“He is the Minister of Police and he is using that office to spread claims about a Labour candidate who doesn’t even know what the specific accusation against him is,” he said in a statement.
“You cannot use the power of the police portfolio to invent allegations against political opponents. Mark Mitchell, should be ashamed of himself.”
In his first interview last month, Naidoo told the Herald he hoped to effect change.
“I grew up in a city where Nelson Mandela was arrested, where Mahatma Gandhi was kicked off the train and he started his non-violence movement.
“Mandela went on to be imprisoned for 27 years, so the idea that what counts in life should be, what can you do that’s greater than yourself?
“I’m an introvert, but what I see that needs to be done, I’m willing to put myself out there for that greater good and, yeah, there’s many things that will come with it but let us look at what happens when we don’t actually address the things that are important for communities.”