New rules for police behaviour do not mention sexual misconduct, prompting accusations that police have failed to right the wrongs highlighted in a damning report on past abuses.

Louise Nicholas, whose allegations of rape by police sparked the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct, is demanding answers as to why there are still no clear guidelines on sexual behaviour.

National MP Chester Borrows, a former police officer, said police were failing to meet the recommendations of a report by Dame Margaret Bazley, released at the conclusion of the commission.

A new code of conduct was deemed "a matter of urgency" by Dame Margaret, who said it was critical for managing sexual misconduct by police officers.

"I saw evidence of some disgraceful conduct by police officers and associates over the period from 1979, involving the exploitation of vulnerable people," she said when the report was released in April last year.

Though the new police code of conduct lists 24 examples of misconduct - including insubordination, drunkenness at work, sending offensive e-mails or using racially offensive language - there is no mention of sexual behaviour.

"My understanding was that that was the whole point of the commission," said Mrs Nicholas. "Part of the code of conduct was that sexual misconduct was to be addressed, and there's nothing in there. Obviously the main [issue] has been left out.

"Why? I have no idea. We need answers."

Police maintain that sexual misconduct is covered by general guidelines on respect for people and property.

Mr Borrows said sexual misconduct was the "whole reason" Dame Margaret was asked to investigate, "so it's strange there is no mention of it in the redrafted code".

In her report, Dame Margaret wrote that she was concerned about the lack of guidelines and said police must specify acceptable relationships with members of the public, and incorporate this policy into all codes of conduct.

In response to questions by Mr Borrows, Police Minister Annette King said the issue was "a matter of wording", and that sexual misconduct was covered in the code of conduct's standards of behaviour. The code listed general issues of integrity and honesty.

Police were working on a professional relationship policy, due by the middle of the year, which would be aligned with the code of conduct.

A spokesman for police headquarters said: "Although the code does not specifically refer to inappropriate sexual behaviour, the code does cover such activity."

It contained a clear reference to "respect for people and property".

"The code does not attempt to provide exhaustive and detailed lists of misconduct - rather, it sets out principles which should guide the conduct of our people."

Police general manager of human resources Wayne Annan said today the code was drafted to describe the most common forms of misbehaviour.

"You can't list every single thing that would cause a breach, otherwise there would be volumes of it," he said on Radio New Zealand.

"We are very confident that all matters, in terms of sexual misbehaviour of all descriptions, are covered by the code. "If it happens today, it will be brought to our attention and we will deal with it."

But Mr Borrows said that wasn't good enough.

"This grew out of the darkest period of police history in the last 50 years, and there's nothing in the code of conduct that specifies what is or isn't proper sexual conduct," he said.

"That's what the public wanted - and they haven't got it."