In March 2013, Devoy was chosen as the successor to
Joris de Bres for the position of
Race Relations Commissioner. She was selected by
Justice Minister Judith Collins, who was later forced to defend the appointment, which was surrounded by some controversy, including concern over prior remarks by Devoy including in her role as a
Bay of Plenty Times columnist. In particular, references were made to her criticism of
Waitangi Day as a national holiday, and those who wear burqas in New Zealand. The
Mana Party called for her sacking, and the
Green Party said her views on
Waitangi Day were "embarrassing". Devoy officially began her five-year job on 1 April 2013. During her first few weeks in office, Devoy was criticised for refusing to comment on a number of race-related controversies, including a tirade against Chinese immigrants by
New Zealand First leader
Winston Peters. Through the remainder of her tenure, Devoy publicly challenged some politicians on their race relations positions. She said that politicians are role models and "it’s my job to call them out". She said NZ First leader Winston Peters' retelling of
Arthur Calwell's comment that "two Wongs don't make a White" was "outdated rhetoric" with "no place in New Zealand's future". When ACT leader Jamie Whyte equated Māori with pre-revolutionary French aristocrats, Devoy said it was "grotesque and inflammatory" to equate Māori, whose socio-economic status lags behind other New Zealanders, with aristocrats murdered because of their privilege. In 2015, some Chinese people in New Zealand were "dismayed" when Labour MP
Phil Twyford released data equating "Chinese sounding" surnames with foreigners while Devoy opined that it was "deeply offensive" for Chinese children to hear MPs insinuating their Chinese sounding surnames meant they were foreigners when their families had, in her opinion, helped and continued to help build New Zealand. Devoy also criticised NZ First MP
Ron Mark for telling Korean-born National MP
Melissa Lee to go back to Korea if she didn't like it in New Zealand. Devoy argued that New Zealand citizens born overseas are "not second class citizens" and "have a right to an opinion". All politicians stood by their statements with Whyte calling for her resignation. Devoy also called on
Prime Minister John Key to meet with New Zealand Muslim leaders as tensions in the Middle East continued to rise. Devoy also spoke out against what she views as 'everyday racism' regularly supporting those who have spoken out and encourage New Zealanders to "not stand by" while others are racially abused. Māori New Zealander Rikki Hooper was humiliated while shopping in her supermarket, while Muslims and Jews have also criticised abuse and attacks as have rugby players in Canterbury and taxi drivers in Southland. Devoy regularly called for an increase in the country's annual refugee quota, which at that time had remained unchanged since 1987. In the wake of the
November 2015 Paris attacks, Devoy and Hazim Arafeh, president of the
Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, released a joint statement condemning
violent extremism and "standing alongside all innocent victims of terrorism in peace, solidarity and humanity." Following the
Christchurch mosque shootings in March 2019, Devoy called on New Zealanders to listen to the voices of vulnerable people, challenge hate, and "stand up for human rights by letting Muslim Kiwis know that you've got their back." Devoy's term ended in 2018 and she was succeeded the following year by former
Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon. ==Later life==