A high-ranking police officer has resigned after his superiors were alerted to an affair he had with a junior colleague.
Superintendent Jon Moss was in charge of the department that recently ordered police officers to disclose office romances, but resigned from his Wellington-based role after failing to report his relationship with a constable.
He had been on annual leave since police hierarchy became aware this month of an undisclosed historical relationship with the officer.
A week ago, Police National Headquarters spokesman Jon Neilson said police were "looking into to a number of issues raised about a relationship that ceased a number of years ago".
It is understood the woman involved is no longer a police officer and laid a complaint about the alleged "double standards" of Supt Moss a few weeks ago.
Supt Moss helped introduce the new "professional distance policy" last year, which covers sexual conduct for officers with the public, victims of crime and work colleagues.
Although the affair occurred before the new rules were introduced, Supt Moss is believed to have resigned because the affair could be perceived as in conflict with his role as the national head of police professional standards.
