The Christchurch Civic Creche Case
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	The Press March 26 1998 Waitai rebukes police over Ellis inquiry NZPA WELLINGTON -- Police have been given a sharp reprimand by a former superintendent. New Zealand First MP Rana Waitai, formerly Gisborne police superintendent, told police representatives at the justice and law reform select committee which he chairs that the committee had requested information on the Peter Ellis inquiry several months ago. The information relates to an inquiry into the conduct of Colin Eade, the officer in charge of the investigation that led to Christchurch man Ellis being sentenced to 10 years' prison on child molestation charges. Mr Eade was alleged by television programme 20/20 to have had psychiatric problems, sexual relationships with the mothers of two children who complained they were abused by Ellis at the childcare centre, and to have made sexual advances to the mother of another complainant. Police Commissioner Peter Doone in November agreed to hold an inquiry into investigations that led to Ellis's conviction. Mr Waitai asked yesterday what had happened with information it had requested on the inquiry police were holding on their handling of the Ellis investigation. Superintendent Graham Thomas, who is based in Police Minister Jack Elder's office, said he understood work had been done at police headquarters on that request. Mr Waitai: ``It's totally unnecessary that a request of this committee is disregarded like that. I hope it is not recorded as going to the Minister, it's coming here.'' Superintendent Thomas: ``I'm confident it has not been disregarded.'' Mr Waitai: ``It better not have been.'' Commissioner Doone's decision to hold an inquiry followed the request from the committee.