Commissioner of Police (New Zealand)

Last updated

Commissioner of Police
New Zealand Police OF-8.svg
Richard Chambers 2019 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Richard Chambers
since 25 November 2024
Reports to Minister of Police
Appointer Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister
Term length No longer than 5 years
Inaugural holder George Stoddart Whitmore
Deputy3 Deputy Commissioners
SalaryNZ$670,000
Website https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive

The Commissioner of Police is the head of the New Zealand Police and the position is currently held by Richard Chambers. [1] The Commissioner is appointed for a term not exceeding five years by the Governor-General, and reports to the Minister of Police. [2] The position combines two functions, that of chief constable in charge of policing and cases, and chief executive responsible for assets and budgeting. [3] The rank insignia is a sword and a rectangular cylinder crossed over each other with a single crown above. [4] In military terms, the rank is equivalent to Lieutenant General. [5]

Contents

History

The Police Force Act 1886 split the police from the earlier body known as the New Zealand Armed Constabulary, which had performed both civil policing functions as well as being the standing army and militia, on 1 September 1886. Sir George Whitmore was appointed as the first commissioner, reporting to the Minister of Defence. [6] Early commissioners came from the United Kingdom with military or law enforcement experience, such as Walter Dinnie, who had served as an Inspector at Scotland Yard.

On 20 November 2024, Police Minister Mark Mitchell announced Richard Chambers who is commonly known by his nickname Felix, will be appointed as the new Commissioner of Police, Richard Chambers took over the position on 25 November 2024 replacing Andrew Coster who left the role on 11 November 2024. New Zealand Police Association president Chris Cahill has said Richard Chambers was a “popular choice” among police staff. [7] [8]

Between the resignation of Andrew Coster on the 11 November 2024 and the appointment of Richard Chambers on the 25 November 2024 the first ever female Commissioner of Police Tania Kura was appointed for an interim term of 14 days. [9] [10]

According to the Public Service Commission, from 2021 to 2024 then Commissioner of Police, Andrew Coster received a yearly salary of $670,000, making him tied for the sixth-highest pay among public sector leaders. [11]

List of commissioners

#ImageNameTerm of OfficeNotes
StartEnd
1 George Stoddart Whitmore.jpg Sir George Stoddart Whitmore 1 September 188631 December 1886 [6] [12]
2 Walter Edward Gudgeon.jpg Major Walter E. Gudgeon 5 January 1887June 1890 [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
3Lt. Col. Arthur Hume 1 July 18901897 [15] [16] [17] [18]
4 John Bennett Tunbridge 21 October 18971903 [16] [19]
5 Walter Dinnie June 190322 December 1909 [20] [21] [22]
6 Frank Waldegrave (acting, undersecretary of Justice)December 19091912 [20]
7 John Cullen 19 April 191223 November 1916 [20] [23]
8 John O'Donovan.jpg John O'Donovan December 19161921 [20]
9 Arthur Wright 1 January 192231 January 1926 [24]
10 William Bernard McIlveney.jpg William McIlveney (first New Zealand born)1 February 192630 June 1930 [25] [26]
11 Ward George Wohlmann 1912.jpg Ward Wohlmann 1 August 193030 June 1936 [26]
12 Denis Joseph Cummings 1 July 193631 October 1944 [27]
13 James Cummings 1 November 194415 April 1950 [27]
14 Bruce Young (died in office)4 April 195028 December 1952 [28] [29]
15 Eric Compton 11 March 195318 April 1955 [29]
16 Samuel Barnett (Controller General)16 May 19551958 [30]
17 Willis Spencer Brown 1 December 19581961 [31]
18 Leslie Spencer 1961May 1967 [32]
19 Colin Urquhart May 1967≥ 1969 [32]
20Sir Angus Sharp <= 19701974
21 Ken Burnside October 1974mid 1978 [33]
22 Bob Walton mid 19784 November 1983 [34] [35] [36] [37]
23 Ken Thompson 5 November 1983January 1987 [37] [38]
24 Malcolm Churches January 1987April 1989 [38] [39] [40]
25 John Jamieson April 1989 ? 1993 [41] [40]
26 Richard Macdonald 19941996
27 Peter Doone 1 July 199625 January 2000 [42] [43]
28 Rob Robinson 200018 December 2005 [44]
29 Steve Long (acting)December 20054 April 2006 [44]
30 Gg-oct19-crimestoppersowen Howard Broad (cropped).jpg Howard Broad 4 April 20063 April 2011 [44] [45]
31 Peter Marshall CNZM (cropped).jpg Peter Marshall 4 April 20112 April 2014 [46]
32 Mike Bush 2018.jpg Mike Bush 3 April 20142 April 2020 [47]
33 Andrew Coster at Government House (cropped).jpg Andrew Coster 3 April 202010 November 2024 [48]
34Tania Kura (interim)11 November 202424 November 2024 [49]
35 Richard Chambers 2019 (cropped).jpg Richard Chambers25 November 2024Incumbent [50]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Commissioner and Executive". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  2. ↑ "Policing Act 2008 No 72". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office . Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "Govt appoints new Police Commissioner". The New Zealand Herald . 30 November 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "Police insignia". New Zealand Police. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "Insignia of rank". New Zealand Police. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  6. 1 2 ( Hill 1995 , p. 7)
  7. ↑ McCulloch, Craig (20 November 2024). "Richard Chambers to be announced as new Police Commissioner, RNZ understands". RNZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Sherwood, Sam (20 November 2024). "New Zealand's next top cop chosen". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Bradly, Anusha (29 October 2024). "First ever female Police Commissioner appointed, on an interim basis". RNZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Commissioner and Executive". New Zealand Police. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  11. ↑ Daly, Michael (21 November 2024). "How the police commissioner's salary compares to other public and private sector leaders". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  12. 1 2 ( Hill 1995 , p. 8)
  13. ↑ "Volume XXI, Issue 6113". Wanganui Herald. 6 January 1887. pp. Page 3. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  14. ↑ "Volume XXXIII, Issue 6849". North Otago Times. 21 September 1889. pp. Page 2. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  15. 1 2 "Volume XXXIV, Issue 703". North Otago Times. 24 June 1890. pp. Page 2. Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  16. 1 2 3 McLintock, A. H. (ed.) (1966). "Police – Development of the Service". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 October 2008.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  17. ↑ Crawford, J. A. B. "Hume, Arthur 1838–1841? – 1918". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  18. ↑ ( Hill 1995 , p. 14)
  19. ↑ "Volume 21, Issue 2277". Otago Witness. 21 October 1897. p. 30. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Derby, Mark (2007). Czar Cullen: Police Commissioner John Cullen and Coercive State Action in Early 20th Century NZ (Thesis). Victoria University of Wellington. doi:10.26686/wgtn.16934698.v1. hdl:10063/351.
  21. ↑ "Volume XXXVII, Issue 10887". Wanganui Herald. 2 March 1903. pp. Page 6. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  22. ↑ ( Hill 1995 , p. 256)
  23. ↑ "New Commissioner of Police". Grey River Argus. 20 April 1912. pp. Page 5. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  24. ↑ Young, Sherwood. "Wright, Arthur Hobbins 1861 – 1938". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  25. ↑ Dunstall, Graeme. "McIlveney, William Bernard 1867 – 1956". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  26. 1 2 Dunstall, Graeme. "Wohlmann, Ward George 1872 – 1956". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  27. 1 2 Dunstall, Graeme. "Cummings, Denis Joseph 1878 – 1956; Cummings, James 1885 – 1976". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  28. ↑ Dunstall, Graeme. "Young, John Bruce 1888 – 1952". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  29. 1 2 Dunstall, Graeme. "Compton, Eric Henry 1902 – 1982". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 5 October 2008.
  30. ↑ ( McGill 1992 , p. 100)
  31. ↑ ( McGill 1992 , p. 109)
  32. 1 2 ( McGill 1992 , p. 121)
  33. ↑ ( McGill 1992 , p. 136)
  34. ↑ "Death of former Police Commissioner Bob Walton". New Zealand Police. 17 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  35. ↑ "Former police commissioner passes away". 3 News. 18 July 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  36. ↑ "Former police commissioner dies". Otago Daily Times. 17 July 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  37. 1 2 "Big reshuffle of top police taking place". The Press . 21 June 1983. p. 3. Retrieved 21 November 2024– via PapersPast.
  38. 1 2 "New police head named". The Press . 23 September 1986. p. 2. Retrieved 21 November 2024– via PapersPast.
  39. ↑ "Police Remembrance Day". New Zealand Police. 26 September 2003. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  40. 1 2 "Top police job to deputy". The Press . 21 February 1989. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2024– via PapersPast.
  41. ↑ ( McGill 1992 , p. 183)
  42. ↑ "New Commissioner of Police announced". New Zealand Executive Government. 28 May 1996. Archived from the original on 29 May 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  43. ↑ "Ex-police commissioner may sue PM". The New Zealand Herald. 27 April 2005. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  44. 1 2 3 "Police commissioner named". TVNZ. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  45. ↑ "New Police Commissioner appointed". New Zealand Government. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
  46. ↑ "New Police Commissioner starts work". Stuff.co.nz. 4 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  47. ↑ "Statement from Deputy Commissioner Operations, Mike Bush". New Zealand Police. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  48. ↑ "Police congratulate new Commissioner of Police". www.police.govt.nz. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  49. ↑ "Tania Kura appointed interim police commissioner". www.stuff.co.nz. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  50. ↑ "New Zealand's next top cop chosen". www.stuff.co.nz. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

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References

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