Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 24, 2022
The phenomenal growth of Auckland as the country’s most-populated city and the increasing need for safer communities and many other factors have prompted the New Zealand Police to appoint an Assistant Commissioner to be exclusively in charge of ‘Tamaki Makaurau.’
Following a robust selection process, Sam Hoyle, a veteran Police Officer has been appointed to the post and he received a traditional Maori welcome with a Powhiri at the Point Chevalier Marae on December 20, 2022.
The Future of Auckland
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said that the post has been established as part of the ‘Tamaki Makaurau: Policing for the Future Project,’ to ensure that services are fit for purpose to meet the growing needs of Auckland.
“The role provides leadership to the three Policing districts covering Auckland, alongside region-wide resources that service the entire region. Under the new structure, there will be five Superintendents reporting to the Assistant Commissioner: the three District Commanders (Auckland City, Counties Manukau and Waitematā), a Director of Deployment and a Director of Partnerships,” Commissioner Coster said.
Noting that Hoyle was welcomed by Ngati Whatua, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Iwi and Communities) Wallace Haumaha said, “Sam will take the leadership role across Tamaki Makaurau. It is a very exciting time for all of us to celebrate and I express my thanks to the Iwi who welcomed this appointment.”
Assistant Commissioner Hoyle, who took charge about a month ago, said that he will outline his plans for the City early next year.
“Auckland is a great place to live and work, and my focus will be to ensure that communities are safe and feel safe. I have been meeting our people across the region and people external to Police. I see a key focus of this role is to ensure that the Police get ahead of emerging issues in our community, responding with resources and closer with partner agencies,” he said.
He said that Tamaki Makaurau continues to grow and develop as a region, and hence it is important that resources match the need.
About Assistant Commissioner Sam Hoyle
Assistant Commissioner Hoyle joined the New Zealand Police in 1985 and has held major operational, command and management roles in New Zealand and overseas. He has returned after completing a tour of duty as the Senior Liaison Officer for the United States, Canada and South America, based in Washington DC.
Earlier, he was Acting Assistant Commissioner, Intelligence, overseeing the National Intelligence Centre and the Evidence-Based Policing Centre. Among his other assignments were District Commander, Wellington and Eastern Districts. He was awarded the Police Commissioner’s Silver Merit Award for his leadership and command of Operation Stingray, the Police response to the Napier Siege in 2009.
Assistant Commissioner Hoyle worked for more than 15 years at the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), including a period as the Officer in Charge of Investigations for the Whanganui Policing area and spent eight years in the Armed Offenders Squad.
Indian Newslink welcomes Assistant Commissioner Sam Hoyle and looks forward to working with him and his team in delivering Police response to community safety and security.
