# Commissioner of Police (New Zealand)

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

## 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. 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.
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.
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.

## List of commissioners

| # | Image | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Notes |
| # | Image | Name | Start | End | Notes |
| 1 | | Sir George Stoddart Whitmore | 1 September 1886 | 31 December 1886 | |
| 2 | | Major Walter E. Gudgeon | 5 January 1887 | June 1890 | |
| 3 | | Lt. Col. Arthur Hume | 1 July 1890 | 1897 | |
| 4 | | John Bennett Tunbridge | 21 October 1897 | 1903 | |
| 5 | | Walter Dinnie | June 1903 | 22 December 1909 | |
| 6 | | Frank Waldegrave (acting, undersecretary of Justice) | December 1909 | 1912 | |
| 7 | | John Cullen | 19 April 1912 | 23 November 1916 | |
| 8 | | John O'Donovan | December 1916 | 1921 | |
| 9 | | Arthur Wright | 1 January 1922 | 31 January 1926 | |
| 10 | | William McIlveney (first New Zealand born) | 1 February 1926 | 30 June 1930 | |
| 11 | | Ward Wohlmann | 1 August 1930 | 30 June 1936 | |
| 12 | | Denis Joseph Cummings | 1 July 1936 | 31 October 1944 | |
| 13 | | James Cummings | 1 November 1944 | 15 April 1950 | |
| 14 | | Bruce Young (died in office) | 4 April 1950 | 28 December 1952 | |
| 15 | | Eric Compton | 11 March 1953 | 18 April 1955 | |
| 16 | | Samuel Barnett (Controller General) | 16 May 1955 | 1958 | |
| 17 | | Willis Spencer Brown | 1 December 1958 | 1961 | |
| 18 | | Leslie Spencer | 1961 | May 1967 | |
| 19 | | Colin Urquhart | May 1967 | ≥ 1969 | |
| 20 | | Sir Angus Sharp | <= 1970 | 1974 | |
| 21 | | Ken Burnside | October 1974 | mid 1978 | |
| 22 | | Bob Walton | mid 1978 | 4 November 1983 | |
| 23 | | Ken Thompson | 5 November 1983 | January 1987 | |
| 24 | | Malcolm Churches | January 1987 | April 1989 | |
| 25 | | John Jamieson | April 1989 | ? 1993 | |
| 26 | | Richard Macdonald | 1994 | 1996 | |
| 27 | | Peter Doone | 1 July 1996 | 25 January 2000 | |
| 28 | | Rob Robinson | 2000 | 18 December 2005 | |
| 29 | | Steve Long (acting) | December 2005 | 4 April 2006 | |
| 30 | | Howard Broad | 4 April 2006 | 3 April 2011 | |
| 31 | | Peter Marshall | 4 April 2011 | 2 April 2014 | |
| 32 | | Mike Bush | 3 April 2014 | 2 April 2020 | |
| 33 | | Andrew Coster | 3 April 2020 | 10 November 2024 | |
| 34 | | Tania Kura (interim) | 11 November 2024 | 24 November 2024 | |
| 35 | | Richard Chambers | 25 November 2024 | Incumbent | |