Sunday Star Times article as seen below;

A police officer who put stones, dirt and sticks in the engine oil of a couple’s Toyota Land Cruiser has admitted a charge of intentional damage.

Constable Darrin O’Donnell was one of a group of police officers that searched the home of Tania Kahaki and Jon Lamb at Marotiri, 40km north of Taupo, while the couple were at work last August.

Police also tipped moisturising cream and hair gel through the couple’s clothing and tipped paint over power tools.

Kahaki, 34, who manages a cycle trail, said she arrived home to find all her house doors open and one of the Land Cruiser’s windows smashed. “I thought, oh no we’ve been burgled.”

But when the mother-of-three discovered a court-approved search warrant tacked to her door she got angry and rang the police to ask why. She was told police were searching for a methamphetamine laboratory.

“We have got our little family life going on here,” she said. “We don’t do any criminal activity, or what not. Nothing came out of their search because we were innocent. We were just caught in the middle of something bigger.”

Lamb added: “They did not need to do all that. I think they came to look for particular items and we had nothing to do with it and when they couldn’t find what they wanted they got p…ed off and started damaging our gear.”

They complained to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, an investigation was launched, and O’Donnell was charged.

Police said last night that O’Donnell “is no longer employed by New Zealand Police”.

He was an officer at the time of the incident, but was serving out his time having resigned beforehand.

“Police staff are held to account under the law, just as any member of the public is. Where appropriate, any matter of a criminal nature will be put before the court,” a spokesperson said.

When approached last night, O’Donnell declined to talk: “It is best I don’t say anything.”

His partner said he had been a police officer for 13 years – the raid and court charges had ruined his life.

She believed he had been hung out to dry. There was more to the incident but “we have been told by police to shut our mouths.”

Kahaki and Lamb said they discovered the stones, dirt and sticks had been placed in the engine of their seldom-used Land Cruiser only after they formally complained to the police.

A police officer had visited them with statements taken from police who had been involved in the search. Kahaki said that in the statements it was mentioned that O’Donnell placed the material in the oil.

“It was sabotage, and put our family at risk,” she said.

“If we had not made a complaint I would probably have driven that vehicle and the engine would have been completely buggered,” Lamb added.

Police paid for repairs.

Lamb was not beyond reproach, himself. He pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving stolen goods as a result of the police raid.

Kahaki said he had “stupidly” allowed an associate to work at their property on cars that turned out to be stolen. He was given periodic detention. Kahaki has no convictions.