KEY POINTS:
Here he is again. The familiar face, that distinctive dome, and that name.
Rickards. The shamed former police assistant commissioner. The man who faced rape charges in the High Court, not once but twice. He was acquitted in the justice system; but not in the court of public opinion. Many people despise him still - or at least despise what he stood for all those years ago.
Clint Rickards today - sitting, barefoot, with his wife Tania Eden in their Auckland living room - is not looking for public sympathy. He simply wants a second chance.
He has moved on, he says. It is a consistent refrain in the conversation. He has moved on from the allegations, the court cases, Louise Nicholas, the strong opinions. Now he just wants a chance to serve his people, his extended whanau, and he talks about his interest in Treaty and Maori land law.
He says that he has moved on in his university studies to become a lawyer.
He found support from fellow law students, some of whom took notes for him when he couldn't attend lectures. Most of them were young women, ironic considering many women look on him with disfavour after the Nicholas allegations.
It is his family and his drive to be a lawyer that dominates his conversation. He's been studying full time for the past three years - through the two rape trials.
"I deserve another chance," he says. "Let's be clear, I haven't done anything, okay? I have worked hard all my life. I have contributed to society. My family have contributed to society and continue to do so. We want to make an impact on society. I just want to work with my people, you know.
"I have given 25 years to the community and it's a further extension to the studies I have done over the years. I did a business degree, I have done a Masters degree and the public policy area interests me and law interests me because it's time I gave back to my community."
He says his people [Maori and Pacific Islanders] are disproportionately represented in crime statistics and he wants to help do something about that.
"I have worked as a police officer in South Auckland for a number of years and I've seen the problems that exist there. I just want to give something back. With my 25-28 years' experience, I am in a unique position to give back to my people because it's got to stop [he means abuse, violence].
"Instead of people talking down to these groups, we have to start listening to these people. I feel as a Maori, in my time as a police officer - which I really enjoyed - you have to listen to what these people tell you."
"I loved being in the police but, hey, it's time for me to move on and law is a great profession. It is an area I want to be a part of. I want to be a person that contributes to a community."
"I've spoken to and dealt with and been involved where a lot of Maori and Pacific Island people have been the brunt of abuse of violence.
"What I'm saying is I think I have an affinity in those areas. So criminal law is an area that interests me but I enjoy Treaty, Maori land law.
"I want to give back to my people - that's an area I want to get involved in for my hapu and my extended whanau."
Rickards says he has already had approaches from some law firms. He says he is not an A student; calls himself "average".
"I think I got a few As but Bs and Cs get degrees too. I was never going to be an honours student but I worked hard like everyone else."
But he is less forthcoming when talk turns to the difficulties which potentially prevent him from being a lawyer. Asked what sort of lawyer he'd be, he says: "I would be committed, very professional. I'd give 110 per cent to my client and the profession. That's what I did as a police officer - I went beyond the call of duty so I'd do the same in the law profession.
"My priorities are my family, moving on and contributing to society.
"I've locked up murderers, drug dealers, rapists. I think I have given reasonable service protecting the community and can honestly say I have given my blood and soul to the police. I was also undercover and I had to deal with the pits of society. I want to progress on the family and the future."
He stands his ground on Louise Nicholas when asked if she taints him with her comments.
"I've moved on from Louise Nicholas. I have moved on because I have had to."
Q: Why do you think she has taken on this crusade against you - to ensure you won't get ahead?
A: "I think it's time for everyone to move on. Everyone has had their day in court and now it's time to move on. It's time for all of us to move on. All I want to be is a lawyer. I assume that if you sit down, you knuckle down and get stuck into your work, then people will leave you alone."
Q: Do you think Louise is being vindictive?
"I am not going to comment on that."
Q: Do you have any animosity towards her?
A: "I'm moving on."
Q: If you saw her what would you say to her?
A: "I'm moving on [laughs]."
Q: Have you read her book?
A: "No, I haven't. I have no desire to."
Q: Aren't you slightly curious what might be in there?
A: "I can swear I have never read it and I don't have any intention to do so. I know the truth and I have moved on."
Q: There was speculation at one point you were considering a civil case against her - is that true?
A: "My priorities are my family and to become a good lawyer. I am not interested in Louise Nicholas."
He says he has "kept in touch" with Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, visiting them in prison. But he says he has "moved on".
Asked about polls that 85 per cent of people believe he was not fit to be a lawyer and that National leader John Key had said he would not want Rickards as his lawyer, Rickards responds: "I want to contribute to the community. Everyone deserves a chance. I have been acquitted not once but twice. I have faced public opinion in the best court in the land.
"John Key is entitled to his opinion. My focus is working for those people who can't afford to be represented - they are my people. John Key can afford anyone he wants. I want to help people who can't afford legal representation. Those people are the ones who need someone to fight for them."
Tania Eden, his wife with whom he has five children between them, says Rickards already has people "lining up" to be helped by him.
Rickards: "That's true but my life is not worth diddly-squat until I become a lawyer."
He talks fondly about the possibility of graduating alongside one of his children who is also studying law. But there is always a but.
Asked if he could understand why the public might not have confidence in him, he says: "That is the same public that had confidence in me in the last 28 years where I kept their streets safe. All I'm saying now is that this is a new profession I want to get into.
"That is my goal - to make sure our streets are safe and to ensure the disadvantaged are represented. My life goal is to keep our community safe. Nothing's changed. There may be some who oppose me but I can't change that.
"I have been recognised by the police; received commendations from the community, from iwi, hapu. I must have done something right."
Tania says: "I still love him. He's done nothing wrong. He's been acquitted. People need to move on because that's what we want to do, so please let us do it."
