KEY POINTS:
Former top policeman Clint Rickards still has the support of leading Maori after years of court action and intense public scrutiny.
In an interview with broadcaster Willie Jackson airing today on Radio Waatea, Mr Rickards will send out a mihi of thanks to Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia,
Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta, Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples, Te Runanga o Ngati Porou chairman Api Mahuika and Ngati Maniapoto kaumatua Tui Adams.
In turn, some of these leaders, who cover a wide political spectrum, say their support for Mr Rickards never wavered in the three years since he first faced sex claims, and a police internal investigation.
Mr Rickards and former police officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum were acquitted of raping Louise Nicholas more than 20 years ago.
Mr Horomia did not return phone calls from the Herald to comment on why Mr Rickards was thanking him, and his Labour colleague Ms Mahuta, the Minister of Customs, could not be contacted yesterday.
Dr Sharples said he visited Mr Rickards a couple of times over the three years to show his support, "just to see how he was getting on".
"At that time he had to go around incognito with glasses on so he could watch his boy play rugby and he [the son] wouldn't be embarrassed."
Dr Sharples said that when a case was before the court nothing was proven or disproven, and supporting Maori was what Maori did.
"We're not here to defend them for things they've done wrong. But it's not our job to prosecute them in the papers or make verbal attacks.
"In terms of Maori, he's reached the top and he's made mistakes.
"Justice takes its course and that's fine, but it doesn't mean we have to turn our back on our own."
But Maori support for Maori wasn't automatic, he said.
"I can't say everything Maori have done I've been able to support them."
Dr Sharples said he hadn't spoken to Mr Rickards since he resigned from the police force last month, pulling the plug on an internal police investigation into his conduct as a serving officer.
Dr Adams said that apart from shared tribal connections, he was on the police selection panel that appointed Mr Rickards Waikato district commander.
He had "absolutely" supported Mr Rickards through the three years and said that feeling went wider in his own iwi.
He said a meeting, which he had not attended, had been called at Kawhia two years ago to discuss how Mr Rickards could be supported, but nothing had come of it.
While his support was based to a degree on whanaungatanga (family relations), it was also based on not being a hypocrite, Dr Adams said.
"I've always maintained I can't jump ship and not support him - I picked him."
Mr Mahuika said Mr Rickards' wife was his niece, but aside from that connection, Ngati Porou also supported him.
He said Pakeha media wouldn't leave Mr Rickards alone, even though he had resigned.