Media gagged from reporting on alleged material found on former New Zealand top cop’s computer

Jevon McSkimming, the former Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police, has been granted a rare emergency injunction preventing media outlets from reporting on the nature of allegedly objectionable material found on his work computer.

The injunction was issued by the High Court in Wellington on Friday evening, following a request from McSkimming's lawyer, Linda Clark. The order also prohibited reporting on the existence of the injunction itself until 2:15 PM on Monday.

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The injunction was issued after McSkimming's lawyer sought an urgent High Court order to prevent publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material found on his work computer, which ultimately led to his resignation.

The order was granted on an interim basis by Justice Karen Grau and was continued on Monday by Justice Cheryl Gwyn, who lifted the suppression on the existence of the injunction but maintained the ban on reporting the details of the material.

McSkimming resigned from his position as Deputy Commissioner last week amid a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and New Zealand Police. Police Minister Mark Mitchell confirmed that McSkimming had resigned before he could be formally dismissed. Mitchell stated that "serious" allegations, separate from the initial investigation, had come to light, prompting the government to begin the process of removing McSkimming from office.

It has been reported that detectives investigating the original complaint against McSkimming allegedly discovered pornographic material on one of his electronic work devices.

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The injunction has sparked debate about the balance between the public's right to know and the need to protect individuals' privacy during legal proceedings. Media organizations, including RNZ, Stuff, and NZME, have opposed the injunction, arguing that it infringes on press freedom and the public's right to be informed.

The High Court has scheduled a future hearing to determine whether the injunction should be extended or lifted.