Rakesh Naidoo says Labour approach not linked to end of texts with Mark Mitchell
Labour candidate Rakesh Naidoo has denied that his political aspirations influenced his decision to stop texting Police Minister Mark Mitchell. The two had exchanged hundreds of messages, including personal photos and event invitations, before communication ceased in early 2025.
Why it matters
The disclosure of private communications between a political candidate and a government minister raises questions about professional boundaries and transparency in public office.
Senior cop turned Labour candidate Rakesh Naidoo says his political aspirations had nothing to do with ending texts with Police Minister Mark Mitchell – despite regularly texting him for months.
Newstalk ZB has obtained more than 500 texts between the pair from the beginning of 2025, but the messages suddenly stopped in February.
That’s the same month Naidoo said he was first approached by Labour to consider running as a candidate.
It was another three months before Naidoo told police he was running for Parliament.
Mitchell won’t speculate on why the texts ceased, saying “that’s a question for Rakesh Naidoo”.
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.
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