Venkat Raman
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Andrew (Andy) Coster has been appointed as the next Police Commissioner of New Zealand.
He will take over the role on April 3, 2020 from Mike Bush who has successfully completed two terms in the high office.
The Commissioner of Police is appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The State Services Commission managed the recruitment process.
Impressive career
Announcing the appointment this afternoon, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that Mr Coster becomes the leader of the New Zealand Police at a time when the government was adding 2000 new Police Officers to the frontline, reforming gun laws to stop firearms from falling into the wrong hands and making our communities safer.
“I know that he will lead a team of 13,000 people across the country with positivity, inclusion and integrity. I first met Andy in his role in Central Auckland. I have had the opportunity to see him work on policy issues such as recent gun law reforms, but most of all I have observed his passion for a Police force that knows its strength lies in what it can achieve with the community it serves,” she said and thanked Mr Bush for his services, including the Christchurch massacre on March 15, 2019.
Police Minister Stuart Nash said that Mr Coster has dedicated nearly 25 years to Police service and that he richly deserved to become the Police Commissioner.
Preventing crime
“The Commissioner of Police is focused on preventing crime and making our communities safer. Andrew Coster has a strong history of accomplishments following his graduation from Police College in 1997, including serving in frontline and investigative roles in Counties Manukau and Auckland. He rose to the position of Area Commander in Auckland City Central before becoming the District Commander for the Southern Police District in 2013.
“On moving to Police National Headquarters in 2015, he was Assistant Commissioner, Strategy and Transformation. Before taking up his current role, he was Acting Deputy Commissioner, Resource Management,” Mr Nash said.
Varied experience
He said that Mr Coster was a Solicitor in the office of the Crown Solicitor in Auckland, and more recently was seconded as Deputy Chief Executive to the Ministry of Justice.
Mr Bush said that he was privileged to the Police Commissioner and that Mr Coster shares his passion and commitment to the New Zealand Police.
“I know that he will do an outstanding job as Commissioner and he has the support of the whole organisation with him. I am happy to be handing over the leadership to someone of Andrew’s calibre,” he said.
Mr Coster said that it is a huge honour to be selected for the role of Police Commissioner.
“I am proud to be an Officer in the New Zealand Police and I look forward to leading an organisation of 13,000 people who do incredible work to keep our communities safe. It is my intent to carry on a legacy of transformation focused on high performance that has been put in place under the leadership of Commissioner Bush,” he said.
Photo Caption: New Police Commissioner Andrew Coster (Acting Deputy Commissioner then) receiving a Special Commemoration Award given to the New Zealand Police from Auckland Mayor Phil Goff at the Sixth Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts & Culture Awards held on Monday, June 24, 2019 at Ellerslie Event Centre, Auckland. (Picture by Narendra Bedekar, Creative Eye Fotographics)
