Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she has sought advice on whether or not Wally Haumaha should be removed from his job.

Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha has no intention of resigning after the police watchdog found he belittled and intimidated two women staffers.

A key supporter of Haumaha has confirmed the high-ranking officer has given his commitment to continuing in the role, and is looking forward to going back to work.

It comes as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in response to an Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report released on Thursday, says there is no clear and proper basis to remove the police deputy commissioner.

The report found two instances where Haumaha aggressively asserted authority and belittled two women staffers, and distributed confidential information in an attempt to discredit a complainant.

NZ POLICE Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha faces criticism for inappropriate conduct in an IPCA report released today.

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* Haumaha complainants urge police to act on intimidating behaviour and 'dirty politics'

* Wally Haumaha belittled and humiliated staff, police watchdog says

* Haumaha 'looking forward' to continuing his work after report clears his appointment

* Haumaha bullying complainants say Government report 'lacks balance'

"This behaviour is clearly inappropriate and I expect the standard to be lifted, and the commissioner of police to do that … I expect him to work alongside Haumaha to lift his professional behaviour and meet my expectations," Ardern said.

The report has been derided Māori leaders who work with police.

Police Minister Stuart Nash has asked commissioner Mike Bush to ensure Haumaha acts in line with police values.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was "very disappointed" by Haumaha's treatment of two women staffers.

In a statement, Bush said he is taking the issues raised seriously.

"These are matters that I will deal with as commissioner of police. I expect high standards from all my staff, but especially members of my executive."

Police have not responded to a request for an interview.

Ardern, when asked if she had confidence in Haumaha, said it was a constitutional process requiring her to follow legal advice, as the position was of "constitutional importance".

"We need to maintain independence between police and state."

Solicitor General Una Jagose QC advised the PM that Haumaha's behaviour did not meet the threshold of removal from an office of "such high constitutional value" and noted the IPCA did not deem the behaviour as bullying.

The IPCA report said Haumaha's behaviour met the common understanding of bullying, but was not persistent in a way required of WorkSafe's definition of workplace bullying.

Police Minister Stuart Nash said Haumaha's "improper and unprofessional behaviour" required follow up action and it was important that police learned from it.

He has asked Bush to report back on how how future inter-agency work will be better managed by January 17.

JARRED WILLIAMSON/STUFF Police Commissioner Mike Bush said expected high standards from all his staff, especially those in his executive.

HAUMAHA HAS THE SUPPORT OF MĀORIDOM

A consortium of senior iwi leaders who work with police have dismissed the IPCA report as unjust, unbalanced, and inconsistent with the findings of a prior Government inquiry.

Neville Baker, a member of the Māori Focus Forum, said Haumaha made a commitment at a Wednesday meeting to continue as deputy commissioner and is "looking forward to going back".

"He's got the support of the police commissioner's forum and also the support of Māoridom," Baker said.

JARRED WILLIAMSON/STUFF Police Minister Stuart Nash said he has asked the police to report back on how future inter-agency work will be better managed.

"A lot of New Zealand are tired of the sort of continued accusations against him and they want him back in the job."

Baker said the report "expressly ignores" the conduct of the complainants themselves, and shows Haumaha raised issues with the project's staff himself.

The two women who filed complaints have said the report cuts through attempts to discredit them.

"Even one example of humiliating, belittling or intimidating behaviour is inappropriate," they said.

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF National Party police spokesman Chris Bishop said the fact Haumaha couldn't be sacked was not a situation the New Zealand public should tolerate.

National Party police spokesman Chris Bishop said Bush had previously informed him he was unable to fire Haumaha due to the role being a statutory appointment.

It made no sense this was now the case with the PM, he said.

"If the police commissioner can't sack Haumaha and and the prime minister can't sack Haumaha, who can?"

If the second top police officer in the country could remain in his job after this, it would send a message that his behaviour was tolerated or accepted, Bishop said.

"That can not be a situation the New Zealand public should tolerate. You can not behave like that and get away with it."

He had been contacted by police officers, including those in senior positions, who were "horrified" at what had happened.

"They have no confidence in him and want him to go."

JOHN NICHOLSON/STUFF Neville Baker said Haumaha was looking forward to going back to work. (File photo)

BULLYING COMPLAINTS

Two women, Ministry of Justice and Corrections staffers, laid formal bullying complaints over Haumaha's actions during the joint project aimed at improving the outcomes of Māori in 2016.

Two instances of alleged bullying - one of snide remarks and another where he raised his hand to stop a the complainant from speaking - were found not to be substantiated and described as acceptable conduct.

But during a "lengthy and loud" argument between the two, Haumaha aggressively asserted his authority and stood over the complainant with his leg on a chair.

ROSS GIBLIN/STUFF Police deputy commissioner Wally Haumaha has come under fire for inappropriate conduct in an IPCA report.

In a meeting almost a month later, he belittled and humiliated the other complainant who told the investigation: "He basically berated me quite publicly ... I was a little bit scared physically".

He pressured each team member to give their personal commitment to the project, which was reasonably interpreted as demanding commitment to his leadership, the IPCA found.

The IPCA received a third complaint in August, and found Haumaha pressured officers to provide information that would help him defend allegations after taking advice from lawyers.

A Corrections manager also sent Haumaha a document critical of one of the complainants, which included confidential details about her performance and employment status.

"Haumaha should not have circulated personal information about a non-police member of the project team, which he did to discredit them."

In June, a Government inquiry into Haumaha's suitability for the role traversed detail of the bullying allegations, finding them irrelevant to his appointment and "at worst" offered to information about Haumaha's management style.

"Police can be expected to have substantial information and experience about how DC Haumaha interacts with woman over his 32 years in police."