Former Eastern District police commander appointed to new top job

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has welcomed the appointment of two new statutory Deputy Commissioners and one of them is former Eastern District Police Commander Tania Kura.

The other is Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming based in Wellington.

Both officers already hold deputy commissioner rank as internal appointments.

Deputy Commissioner Kura, who joined the New Zealand Police in 1987, was made Eastern District Commander in July 2017, responsible for Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and the East Coast.

In that role she had responsibility for 500 staff and demonstrated her ability to lead significant cultural change.

Her police biography reads, “Throughout her career, Tania has relentlessly focused on the development of her people and building a strong, positive culture. She is highly regarded by the community and her staff.”

In 2020 she became the first female police officer to be appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner.

“The statutory deputy role is an important one within police’s constitutional framework,” said Police Commissioner Coster.

“It includes a safeguard for the independence of the office holders.

“If the Commissioner is incapacitated, one of the statutory deputies will assume office, until an acting commissioner is formally appointed.

“I want to congratulate both Jevon and Tania on their respective appointments to this important role.

“They both have wide-ranging and complementary policing experience and expertise, and have been instrumental leaders on the police executive for the past three years,” Commissioner Coster said.

The Governor-General appoints the statutory deputy on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.