Commissioner of Police (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The Commissioner of Police is the head of the New Zealand Police
. The Commissioner is appointed for a three-year term 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. In military terms, the rank is equivalent to Lieutenant General
.
The Police Force Act 1886 split the police from 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 Inspector at Scotland Yard
.
In 2006, the commissioner was the highest paid person on the public payroll in New Zealand, earning $440,000.
New Zealand Police
The New Zealand Police is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand...
. The Commissioner is appointed for a three-year term by the Governor-General
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, 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. In military terms, the rank is equivalent to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
The Police Force Act 1886 split the police from 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
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with military or law enforcement experience, such as Walter Dinnie, who had served as Inspector at Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
.
In 2006, the commissioner was the highest paid person on the public payroll in New Zealand, earning $440,000.
List of Commissioners
| # | Name | Term of Office | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | |||
| 1 | Sir George Stoddart Whitmore | 1 September 1886 | 31 December 1886 | |
| 2 | Major Walter E. Gudgeon Walter Edward Gudgeon Walter Edward Gudgeon CMG was born in London, England. He was a farmer, soldier, historian, land court judge and colonial administrator.-Early life:... |
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 Bernard McIlveney (first New Zealand born) | 1 February 1926 | 30 June 1930 | |
| 11 | Ward George Wohlmann | 1 August 1930 | 30 June 1936 | |
| 12 | Denis Joseph Cummings | 1 July 1936 | 31 October 1944 | |
| 13 | James Cummings "Jim" | 1 November 1944 | 15 April 1950 | |
| 14 | John Bruce Young (died in office) | 4 April 1950 | 28 December 1952 | |
| 15 | Eric Henry 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 "Gus" | <= 1970 | 1974 | |
| 21 | Ken B. Burnside | October 1974 | mid 1978 | |
| 22 | Robert Walton "Bob" | mid 1978 | 1983 | |
| 23 | Ken Thompson | <= 1984 | >= 1986 | |
| 24 | Malcolm Churches "Mal" | 1987 | 1989 | |
| 25 | John Jamieson | 1989 | ? 1993 | |
| 26 | Richard Macdonald | 1994 | 1996 | |
| 27 | Peter Doone | 1 July 1996 | 25 January 2000 | |
| 28 | Robert Robinson "Rob", "Robbie" | 2000 | 18 December 2005 | |
| 29 | Steve Long (acting) | December 2005 | 4 April 2006 | |
| 30 | Howard Broad Howard Broad Howard George Broad, CNZM was the thirtieth New Zealand Commissioner of Police, serving from 2006 to 2011. He is a former career police officer, working in uniform and as a detective for eighteen years, before moving into senior roles at the Police National Headquarters in Wellington... |
4 April 2006 | 3 April 2011 | |
| 31 | Peter Marshall Peter Marshall (police commissioner) Peter Brendon Marshall, MNZM is the current New Zealand Commissioner of Police. The New Zealand Government appointed Marshall as Commissioner for a three-year term beginning 4 April 2011... |
4 April 2011 | Incumbent |