Commissioner of Police (New Zealand)

{{Infobox official post

| post = Commissioner of Police

| insignia = New Zealand Police OF-8.svg

| insigniasize = 80px

| incumbent = Richard Chambers

| incumbentsince = 25 November 2024

| image = Richard Chambers 2019 (cropped).jpg

| deputy =

Tania Kura & Chris De Wattigner

| inaugural = George Stoddart Whitmore

| website = https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive

| appointer = Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister

| reports_to = Minister of Police

| termlength = No longer than 5 years

| salary = NZ$670,000

}}

The Commissioner of Police is the head of the New Zealand Police and the position is currently held by Richard Chambers.{{Cite web |title=Commissioner and Executive |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125065809/https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive |archive-date=2024-11-25 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}} The Commissioner is appointed for a term not exceeding five years by the Governor-General, and reports to the Minister of Police.{{cite web |title=Policing Act 2008 No 72 |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2008/0072/latest/whole.html#DLM1102191 |website=New Zealand Legislation |publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office |access-date=9 March 2020}} The position combines two functions, that of chief constable in charge of policing and cases, and chief executive responsible for assets and budgeting.{{cite web|title=Govt appoints new Police Commissioner|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10691048|date=30 November 2010|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=9 April 2011}} The rank insignia is a sword and a rectangular cylinder crossed over each other with a single crown above.{{Cite web |title=Police insignia |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/history/insignia |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}} In military terms, the rank is equivalent to Lieutenant General.{{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/about/insignia.html|title=Insignia of rank|publisher=New Zealand Police|access-date=2009-01-20}}

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.{{harv|Hill|1995|p=7}} 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.{{Cite web |last=McCulloch |first=Craig |date=2024-11-20 |title=Richard Chambers to be announced as new Police Commissioner, RNZ understands |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/534314/richard-chambers-to-be-announced-as-new-police-commissioner-rnz-understands |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=RNZ |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sherwood |first=Sam |date=2024-11-20 |title=New Zealand’s next top cop chosen |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360479625/new-zealands-next-top-cop-chosen |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Stuff }}

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.{{Cite web |last=Bradly |first=Anusha |date=2024-10-29 |title=First ever female Police Commissioner appointed, on an interim basis |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/532187/first-ever-female-police-commissioner-appointed-on-an-interim-basis |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=RNZ |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Commissioner and Executive |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241120030109/https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/commissioner-and-executive |archive-date=2024-11-20 |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Daly |first=Michael |date=2024-11-21 |title=How the police commissioner’s salary compares to other public and private sector leaders |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360495402/how-police-commissioners-salary-compares-other-public-and-private-sector-leaders |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Stuff }}

List of commissioners

class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"\| # !rowspan="2"\| Image !rowspan="2"\| Name !colspan="2"\| Term of Office !rowspan="2"\| Notes
Start ! End
1 \| 60px \| Sir George Stoddart Whitmore \| 1 September 1886 \| 31 December 1886 \| {{harv\|Hill\|1995\|p=8}}
2 \| 60px \| Major Walter E. Gudgeon \| 5 January 1887 \| June 1890 \| {{cite web\|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=172&cl=search&d=WH18870106.2.27\|title=Volume XXI, Issue 6113\|date=6 January 1887\|publisher=Wanganui Herald \|pages=Page 3\|access-date=2008-10-04}}{{cite web\|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=16&cl=search&d=NOT18890921.2.8.2\|title=Volume XXXIII, Issue 6849\|date=21 September 1889\|publisher=North Otago Times \|pages=Page 2\|access-date=2008-10-04}}{{cite web\|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=354&cl=search&d=NOT18900624.2.12.1\|title=Volume XXXIV, Issue 703\|date=24 June 1890\|publisher=North Otago Times \|pages=Page 2\|access-date=2008-10-05}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/P/Police/DevelopmentOfTheService/en\|title=Police – Development of the Service\|editor-last=McLintock \|editor-first=A. H.\|year=1966\|publisher=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand\|access-date=2008-10-05}}
3 \| \| Lt. Col. Arthur Hume \| 1 July 1890 \| 1897 \| {{DNZB\|id=2H55\|title=Hume, Arthur 1838–1841? – 1918\|last=Crawford\|first=J. A. B.\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}{{harv\|Hill\|1995\|p=14}}
4 \| \| John Bennett Tunbridge \| 21 October 1897 \| 1903 \| {{cite web\|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=245&cl=search&d=OW18971021.2.106.5\|title=Volume 21, Issue 2277\|date=21 October 1897\|publisher=Otago Witness \|pages=30\|access-date=2008-10-04}}
5 \| \| Walter Dinnie \| June 1903 \| 22 December 1909 \| {{cite thesis\|hdl=10063/351\|title=Czar Cullen: Police Commissioner John Cullen and Coercive State Action in Early 20th Century NZ\|last=Derby\|first=Mark\|year=2007\|publisher=Victoria University of Wellington\|doi=10.26686/wgtn.16934698.v1 \|url=http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/handle/10063/351}}{{cite web\|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=76&cl=search&d=WH19030302.2.52\|title=Volume XXXVII, Issue 10887\|date=2 March 1903\|publisher=Wanganui Herald \|pages=Page 6\|access-date=2008-10-04}}{{harv\|Hill\|1995\|p=256}}
6 \| \| Frank Waldegrave (acting, undersecretary of Justice) \| December 1909 \| 1912 \|
7 \| \| John Cullen \| 19 April 1912 \| 23 November 1916 \| {{cite web\|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=188&cl=search&d=GRA19120420.2.35.1\|title=New Commissioner of Police\|date=20 April 1912\|publisher=Grey River Argus \|pages=Page 5\|access-date=2008-10-04}}
8 \| 60px \| John O'Donovan \| December 1916 \| 1921 \|
9 \| \| Arthur Wright \| 1 January 1922 \| 31 January 1926 \| {{DNZB\|id=4W27\|title=Wright, Arthur Hobbins 1861 – 1938\|last=Young\|first=Sherwood\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}
10 \| 60px \| William McIlveney (first New Zealand born) \| 1 February 1926 \| 30 June 1930 \| {{DNZB\|id=4M14\|title=McIlveney, William Bernard 1867 – 1956\|last=Dunstall\|first=Graeme\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}{{DNZB\|id=4W23\|title=Wohlmann, Ward George 1872 – 1956\|last=Dunstall\|first=Graeme\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}
11 \| 60px \| Ward Wohlmann \| 1 August 1930 \| 30 June 1936 \|
12 \| \| Denis Joseph Cummings \| 1 July 1936 \| 31 October 1944 \| {{DNZB\|id=4C45\|title=Cummings, Denis Joseph 1878 – 1956; Cummings, James 1885 – 1976\|last=Dunstall\|first=Graeme\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}
13 \| \| James Cummings \| 1 November 1944 \| 15 April 1950 \|
14 \| \| Bruce Young (died in office) \| 4 April 1950 \| 28 December 1952 \| {{DNZB\|id=5Y2\|title=Young, John Bruce 1888 – 1952\|last=Dunstall\|first=Graeme\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}{{DNZB\|id=5C30\|title=Compton, Eric Henry 1902 – 1982\|last=Dunstall\|first=Graeme\|accessdate=2008-10-05}}
15 \| \| Eric Compton \| 11 March 1953 \| 18 April 1955 \|
16 \| \| Samuel Barnett (Controller General) \| 16 May 1955 \| 1958 \| {{harv\|McGill\|1992\|p=100}}
17 \| \| Willis Spencer Brown \| 1 December 1958 \| 1961 \| {{harv\|McGill\|1992\|p=109}}
18 \| \| Leslie Spencer \| 1961 \| May 1967 \| {{harv\|McGill\|1992\|p=121}}
19 \| \| Colin Urquhart \| May 1967 \| ≥ 1969 \|
20 \| \| Sir Angus Sharp \| <= 1970 \| 1974 \|
21 \| \| Ken Burnside \| October 1974 \| mid 1978 \| {{harv\|McGill\|1992\|p=136}}
22 \| \| Bob Walton \| mid 1978 \| 4 November 1983 \| {{cite web\|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/district/eastern/release/4134.html\|title=Death of former Police Commissioner Bob Walton\|date=17 July 2008\|publisher=New Zealand Police\|access-date=2008-10-04\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006145353/http://www.police.govt.nz/district/eastern/release/4134.html\|archive-date=6 October 2008\|url-status=dead}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/National/Story/tabid/423/articleID/63506/cat/64/Default.aspx\|title=Former police commissioner passes away\|date=18 July 2008\|publisher=3 News\|access-date=2008-10-08\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930005714/http://www.3news.co.nz/National/Story/tabid/423/articleID/63506/cat/64/Default.aspx\|archive-date=30 September 2012\|url-status=dead}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/13737/former-police-commissioner-dies\|title=Former police commissioner dies\|date=17 July 2008\|publisher=Otago Daily Times \|access-date=2008-10-09}}{{cite news \|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830621.2.31 \|title=Big reshuffle of top police taking place \|date=21 June 1983 \|work=The Press \|page=3 \|access-date=21 November 2024 \|via=PapersPast}}
23 \| \| Ken Thompson \| 5 November 1983 \| January 1987 \| {{cite news \|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860923.2.19 \|title=New police head named \|date=23 September 1986 \|work=The Press \|page=2 \|access-date=21 November 2024 \|via=PapersPast}}
24 \| \| Malcolm Churches \| January 1987 \| April 1989 \| {{cite web\|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/1105.html\|title=Police Remembrance Day\|date=26 September 2003\|publisher=New Zealand Police\|access-date=2008-10-07}}{{cite news \|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890221.2.56 \|title=Top police job to deputy \|date=21 February 1989 \|work=The Press \|page=8 \|access-date=21 November 2024 \|via=PapersPast}}
25 \| \| John Jamieson \| April 1989 \| ? 1993 \| {{harv\|McGill\|1992\|p=183}}
26 \| \| Richard Macdonald \| 1994 \| 1996 \|
27 \| \| Peter Doone \| 1 July 1996 \| 25 January 2000 \| {{cite web\|url=http://executive.govt.nz/93-96/minister/luxton/jln2805.htm\|title=New Commissioner of Police announced\|date=28 May 1996\|publisher=New Zealand Executive Government\|access-date=2008-10-06\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040529150255/http://executive.govt.nz/93-96/minister/luxton/jln2805.htm\|archive-date=29 May 2004\|url-status=dead}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10122568\|title=Ex-police commissioner may sue PM \|date=27 April 2005\|work=The New Zealand Herald \|access-date=2008-10-04}}
28 \| \| Rob Robinson \| 2000 \| 18 December 2005 \| {{cite web\|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/694861\|title=Police commissioner named\|date=4 April 2006\|publisher=TVNZ\|access-date=2008-10-04}}
29 \| \| Steve Long (acting) \| December 2005 \| 4 April 2006 \|
30 \| 60px \| Howard Broad \| 4 April 2006 \| 3 April 2011 \| {{cite web\|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/gallery/new+police+commissioner+appointed\|title=New Police Commissioner appointed\|date=4 April 2006\|publisher=New Zealand Government\|access-date=2008-10-04}}
31 \| 60px \| Peter Marshall \| 4 April 2011 \| 2 April 2014 \| {{cite web\|title=New Police Commissioner starts work\|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4844242/New-Police-Commissioner-starts-work\|publisher=Stuff.co.nz\|date=4 April 2011\|access-date=6 April 2011}}
32 \| 60px \| Mike Bush \| 3 April 2014 \| 2 April 2020 \| {{cite web\|title=Statement from Deputy Commissioner Operations, Mike Bush \|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/statement-deputy-commissioner-operations-mike-bush\|publisher=New Zealand Police\|date=25 February 2014\|access-date=2 May 2014}}
33 \| 60px \| Andrew Coster \| 3 April 2020 \| 10 November 2024 \| {{cite web\|title=Police congratulate new Commissioner of Police\|url=https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/police-congratulate-new-commissioner-police\|publisher=www.police.govt.nz\|date=9 March 2020\|access-date=2 April 2020}}
34 \| \| Tania Kura (interim) \| 11 November 2024 \| 24 November 2024 \| {{cite web\|title=Tania Kura appointed interim police commissioner\|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360467343/tania-kura-appointed-interim-police-commissioner\|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz\|date=29 October 2024\|access-date=29 October 2024}}
35 \| 60px \| Richard Chambers \| 25 November 2024 \| Incumbent \| {{cite web\|title=New Zealand's next top cop chosen\|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360479625/new-zealands-next-top-cop-chosen\|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz\|date=20 November 2024\|access-date=20 November 2024}}

class="wikitable"

!rowspan="2"| #

!rowspan="2"| Image

!rowspan="2"| Name

!colspan="2"| Term of Office

!rowspan="2"| Notes

Start

! End

| 60px

| Sir George Stoddart Whitmore

| 1 September 1886

| 31 December 1886

| {{harv|Hill|1995|p=8}}

| 60px

| Major Walter E. Gudgeon

| 5 January 1887

| June 1890

| {{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=172&cl=search&d=WH18870106.2.27|title=Volume XXI, Issue 6113|date=6 January 1887|publisher=Wanganui Herald |pages=Page 3|access-date=2008-10-04}}{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=16&cl=search&d=NOT18890921.2.8.2|title=Volume XXXIII, Issue 6849|date=21 September 1889|publisher=North Otago Times |pages=Page 2|access-date=2008-10-04}}{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=354&cl=search&d=NOT18900624.2.12.1|title=Volume XXXIV, Issue 703|date=24 June 1890|publisher=North Otago Times |pages=Page 2|access-date=2008-10-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/P/Police/DevelopmentOfTheService/en|title=Police – Development of the Service|editor-last=McLintock |editor-first=A. H.|year=1966|publisher=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand|access-date=2008-10-05}}

| Lt. Col. Arthur Hume

| 1 July 1890

| 1897

| {{DNZB|id=2H55|title=Hume, Arthur 1838–1841? – 1918|last=Crawford|first=J. A. B.|accessdate=2008-10-05}}{{harv|Hill|1995|p=14}}

| John Bennett Tunbridge

| 21 October 1897

| 1903

| {{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=245&cl=search&d=OW18971021.2.106.5|title=Volume 21, Issue 2277|date=21 October 1897|publisher=Otago Witness |pages=30|access-date=2008-10-04}}

| Walter Dinnie

| June 1903

| 22 December 1909

| {{cite thesis|hdl=10063/351|title=Czar Cullen: Police Commissioner John Cullen and Coercive State Action in Early 20th Century NZ|last=Derby|first=Mark|year=2007|publisher=Victoria University of Wellington|doi=10.26686/wgtn.16934698.v1 |url=http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/handle/10063/351}}{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=76&cl=search&d=WH19030302.2.52|title=Volume XXXVII, Issue 10887|date=2 March 1903|publisher=Wanganui Herald |pages=Page 6|access-date=2008-10-04}}{{harv|Hill|1995|p=256}}

| Frank Waldegrave (acting, undersecretary of Justice)

| December 1909

| 1912

| John Cullen

| 19 April 1912

| 23 November 1916

| {{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&srpos=188&cl=search&d=GRA19120420.2.35.1|title=New Commissioner of Police|date=20 April 1912|publisher=Grey River Argus |pages=Page 5|access-date=2008-10-04}}

| 60px

| John O'Donovan

| December 1916

| 1921

| Arthur Wright

| 1 January 1922

| 31 January 1926

| {{DNZB|id=4W27|title=Wright, Arthur Hobbins 1861 – 1938|last=Young|first=Sherwood|accessdate=2008-10-05}}

| 60px

| William McIlveney (first New Zealand born)

| 1 February 1926

| 30 June 1930

| {{DNZB|id=4M14|title=McIlveney, William Bernard 1867 – 1956|last=Dunstall|first=Graeme|accessdate=2008-10-05}}{{DNZB|id=4W23|title=Wohlmann, Ward George 1872 – 1956|last=Dunstall|first=Graeme|accessdate=2008-10-05}}

| 60px

| Ward Wohlmann

| 1 August 1930

| 30 June 1936

| Denis Joseph Cummings

| 1 July 1936

| 31 October 1944

| {{DNZB|id=4C45|title=Cummings, Denis Joseph 1878 – 1956; Cummings, James 1885 – 1976|last=Dunstall|first=Graeme|accessdate=2008-10-05}}

| James Cummings

| 1 November 1944

| 15 April 1950

| Bruce Young (died in office)

| 4 April 1950

| 28 December 1952

| {{DNZB|id=5Y2|title=Young, John Bruce 1888 – 1952|last=Dunstall|first=Graeme|accessdate=2008-10-05}}{{DNZB|id=5C30|title=Compton, Eric Henry 1902 – 1982|last=Dunstall|first=Graeme|accessdate=2008-10-05}}

| Eric Compton

| 11 March 1953

| 18 April 1955

| Samuel Barnett (Controller General)

| 16 May 1955

| 1958

| {{harv|McGill|1992|p=100}}

| Willis Spencer Brown

| 1 December 1958

| 1961

| {{harv|McGill|1992|p=109}}

| Leslie Spencer

| 1961

| May 1967

| {{harv|McGill|1992|p=121}}

| Colin Urquhart

| May 1967

| ≥ 1969

| Sir Angus Sharp

| <= 1970

| 1974

| Ken Burnside

| October 1974

| mid 1978

| {{harv|McGill|1992|p=136}}

| Bob Walton

| mid 1978

| 4 November 1983

| {{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/district/eastern/release/4134.html|title=Death of former Police Commissioner Bob Walton|date=17 July 2008|publisher=New Zealand Police|access-date=2008-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006145353/http://www.police.govt.nz/district/eastern/release/4134.html|archive-date=6 October 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/National/Story/tabid/423/articleID/63506/cat/64/Default.aspx|title=Former police commissioner passes away|date=18 July 2008|publisher=3 News|access-date=2008-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930005714/http://www.3news.co.nz/National/Story/tabid/423/articleID/63506/cat/64/Default.aspx|archive-date=30 September 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/13737/former-police-commissioner-dies|title=Former police commissioner dies|date=17 July 2008|publisher=Otago Daily Times |access-date=2008-10-09}}{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830621.2.31 |title=Big reshuffle of top police taking place |date=21 June 1983 |work=The Press |page=3 |access-date=21 November 2024 |via=PapersPast}}

| Ken Thompson

| 5 November 1983

| January 1987

| {{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860923.2.19 |title=New police head named |date=23 September 1986 |work=The Press |page=2 |access-date=21 November 2024 |via=PapersPast}}

| Malcolm Churches

| January 1987

| April 1989

| {{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/1105.html|title=Police Remembrance Day|date=26 September 2003|publisher=New Zealand Police|access-date=2008-10-07}}{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890221.2.56 |title=Top police job to deputy |date=21 February 1989 |work=The Press |page=8 |access-date=21 November 2024 |via=PapersPast}}

| John Jamieson

| April 1989

| ? 1993

| {{harv|McGill|1992|p=183}}

| Richard Macdonald

| 1994

| 1996

| Peter Doone

| 1 July 1996

| 25 January 2000

| {{cite web|url=http://executive.govt.nz/93-96/minister/luxton/jln2805.htm|title=New Commissioner of Police announced|date=28 May 1996|publisher=New Zealand Executive Government|access-date=2008-10-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040529150255/http://executive.govt.nz/93-96/minister/luxton/jln2805.htm|archive-date=29 May 2004|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10122568|title=Ex-police commissioner may sue PM |date=27 April 2005|work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=2008-10-04}}

| Rob Robinson

| 2000

| 18 December 2005

| {{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/694861|title=Police commissioner named|date=4 April 2006|publisher=TVNZ|access-date=2008-10-04}}

| Steve Long (acting)

| December 2005

| 4 April 2006

| 60px

| Howard Broad

| 4 April 2006

| 3 April 2011

| {{cite web|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/gallery/new+police+commissioner+appointed|title=New Police Commissioner appointed|date=4 April 2006|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=2008-10-04}}

| 60px

| Peter Marshall

| 4 April 2011

| 2 April 2014

| {{cite web|title=New Police Commissioner starts work|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4844242/New-Police-Commissioner-starts-work|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|date=4 April 2011|access-date=6 April 2011}}

| 60px

| Mike Bush

| 3 April 2014

| 2 April 2020

| {{cite web|title=Statement from Deputy Commissioner Operations, Mike Bush

|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/statement-deputy-commissioner-operations-mike-bush|publisher=New Zealand Police|date=25 February 2014|access-date=2 May 2014}}

| 60px

| Andrew Coster

| 3 April 2020

| 10 November 2024

| {{cite web|title=Police congratulate new Commissioner of Police|url=https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/police-congratulate-new-commissioner-police|publisher=www.police.govt.nz|date=9 March 2020|access-date=2 April 2020}}

| Tania Kura (interim)

| 11 November 2024

| 24 November 2024

| {{cite web|title=Tania Kura appointed interim police commissioner|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360467343/tania-kura-appointed-interim-police-commissioner|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz|date=29 October 2024|access-date=29 October 2024}}

| 60px

| Richard Chambers

| 25 November 2024

| Incumbent

| {{cite web|title=New Zealand's next top cop chosen|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360479625/new-zealands-next-top-cop-chosen|publisher=www.stuff.co.nz|date=20 November 2024|access-date=20 November 2024}}

Notes

References

{{Cite book |last=Hill|first=Richard Synyer|title=The Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove|publisher=Dunmore Press|year=1995|isbn=0-86469-244-7 }}
{{Cite book |last=McGill|first=David|title=No Right to Strike|publication-place =Wellington, NZ|publisher=Silver Owl Press|year=1992|isbn=0-9597979-2-0 }}

Category:Lists of New Zealand people by occupation

New Zealand