Commissioner and Executive

The chief executive of Police is known as the Commissioner and is appointed by the Governor General. Richard Chambers is the current Commissioner of New Zealand Police. The Commissioner of Police is accountable to the Minister of Police for the administration of police services, but acts independently in carrying out law enforcement decisions.

Nationally we have 12 districts, which are administered from Police National Headquarters in Wellington, and a number of national service centres that provide administrative and specialised support, such as forensic services.

Each of the 12 districts have a District Commander and a team of Area Commanders who manage the day-to-day operations. You can find a list of these commanders on the district pages.

Executive Leadership Team

Commissioner of Police

Richard Chambers

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Richard Chambers became Commissioner of Police on 25 November 2024. On his first day as Commissioner, he outlined his high-level priorities:

Focus on core policing – enforcing the law – prevention, response, investigations, and resolutions. Doing the basics well.

Supporting the frontline – enhancing staff safety, well-being, and capability.

Leadership – that is visible, connected, supportive and accountable.

Fiscal responsibility – including identifying opportunities to reinvest in the frontline.

Richard joined Police on 22 January 1996, and was posted to Auckland City District on graduation. After two years in frontline general duties, he joined CIB and later qualified as a detective.

He held a number of supervisory roles, in Auckland City and later Wellington Districts at sergeant and senior sergeant level. In 2005 he was promoted to the rank of inspector in a role leading the development of strategy and policy at Police National Headquarters.

In 2007 he was promoted to the position of Lower Hutt Area Commander, during which time he also served as relieving Wellington District Commander. It was at this time that he became involved in kapa haka as a way of deepening his understanding of te reo Māori, tikanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

He returned to PNHQ to lead the Mobility workstream of the Policing Excellence programme, which led in 2013 to the introduction of iPhones for Police staff.

Richard was promoted to superintendent and took the role of Tasman District Commander in February 2012, also relieving as Southern District Commander for six months.

He exchanged one of Police’s most geographically diverse and sparsely populated districts for the smallest and one of the most densely populated on appointment as District Commander of Auckland City in 2014.

In 2016 Richard was appointed Assistant Commissioner, leading investigations, serious and organised crime, including cybercrime, and financial crime.

During his time as Assistant Commissioner: Investigations, Serious and Organised Crime, he initiated the development and implementation of the Investigations Management Tool, which has become one of the most significant enablers for investigators across the country. He also led the design and implementation of the Reintegration programme to support Police staff involved in critical incidents.

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand in early 2020, Richard became co-lead of the New Zealand Police response.

In 2020 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner: Districts, supporting Northland, Waitematā, Auckland City, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty policing districts, later expanding to include Central and Eastern Districts.

In 2022 he served as National Controller of Operation Convoy, the policing of the 23-day illegal occupation of Parliament Grounds and surrounding streets, and in 2023 as the National Controller for Operation Gabrielle, the Police response to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Richard headed overseas in 2024, taking on a role with INTERPOL as Director of Organised and Emerging Crime, based in Lyon, France. This role is responsible for global operations and strategy development focused on criminal networks, vulnerable communities and illicit markets including environmental crime.

Richard holds academic qualifications including an Executive Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce.
Deputy Commissioner: Central and Southern Districts

Mike Pannett MNZM

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Michael (Mike) Pannett MNZM became statutory Deputy Commissioner of Police on 18 December 2025. In this role he has responsibility for Central and Southern Districts (Eastern, Central, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury and Southern), Investigations, Serious and Organised Crime, National Security and International, Road Policing and District Support, and the Firearms Safety Authority.

Mike has served in NZ Police for over 40 years, holding senior leadership roles in New Zealand and internationally.

He has held a range of roles in the investigation of serious and organised crime, and in national security and intelligence, most recently as Assistant Commissioner: National Security and International. He was District Commander in Southern from late 2015 to the end of 2016.

He was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 2016 and was National Commander for the 2019 Christchurch terror attacks.

From 2020 to 2023, Mike was seconded to lead the Australian Federal Police (AFP) International Command, based in Canberra and working on global policing including Interpol activities.

He was the first police officer to be a sworn Assistant Commissioner simultaneously in both Australia and New Zealand.

For his first 30 years in Police, Mike was based in Auckland and Northland where he became Northland District Crime Services Manager. He established and led the Northland District Intelligence Unit, overseeing high-profile homicide and organised crime investigations. He also led policing operations at Waitangi for more than 20 years.

He was promoted to lead intelligence operations at the newly established National Intelligence Unit at PNHQ in 2009.

His career has included four years in Washington DC as Senior Liaison Officer to the US, Canada, Central and Southern America (2011 – 2015).

He has been involved in security operations for both the Rio Olympics and Beijing Olympics.

In 2010, he was recognised for his services to Police by being invested as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

In 2014 Mike completed the Senior Executives in National and International Security Program at Harvard University – John F Kennedy School of Government and in 2017 he undertook the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Executive Institute Program.
Deputy Commissioner: Northern Districts

Jill Rogers

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Jill Rogers was provisionally appointed as Deputy Commissioner on 27 January 2026 after relieving in the role since 31 March 2025. This role has responsibility for Northern Districts (Northland, Waitematā, Auckland City, Counties Manukau, Waikato and Bay of Plenty), Iwi and Communities, Partnerships, Auckland, and National Deployment.

Jill’s policing career began in 1993 and spans frontline policing, complex investigations, and command and leadership roles.

She has spent most of her service in the Auckland region. From 2017 to 2023 she was District Commander in Counties Manukau, the most diverse of the policing districts.

In 2023, she was appointed Assistant Commissioner: Leadership, Talent and Development, giving her responsibility for recruitment, the Royal New Zealand Police College and all training and development for New Zealand Police.

Earlier in her career, she served as Area Commander Auckland Central for three years, worked in Waitematā District and has relieved as Acting Detective Superintendent in Central District.

In 1996 Jill joined the CIB, where she worked for 17 years on a range of serious and complex criminal investigations.

Jill holds an Executive Master of Public Administration and joined Police after a teaching career.
Chief Operating Officer

Andrea Conlan

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Andrea Conlan is an accomplished New Zealand public sector leader who joined Police in 2023. As Chief Operating Officer her current responsibilities include leadership of people (HR), information and technology, finance, integrity and conduct, policy and planning, and capability and infrastructure.

Andrea has a wealth of people and functional leadership experience including from ACC where she held many senior roles including Head of Customer Performance, Head of Service Support and Acting Deputy Chief Executive – Strategy, Engagement and Planning.

She has led large complex business functions and has extensive experience in strategic planning, financial management and operational performance alongside strong understanding of risk assessment, communications and engagement. The foundation of her career was in procurement, supplier management and commercial negotiation with previous roles at PHARMAC, the Ministry of Fisheries and Airwave Solutions in the UK.

An advocate and driver for positive change and continuous improvement, she is known for her collaborative leadership style with a focus on action and solutions.

Andrea has a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology) and Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Economics) from University of Otago.
Chief of Staff

Cassandra Anderson

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Cassandra Anderson was provisionally appointed as Chief of Staff on 27 January 2026. Her role responsibilities include the Commissioner’s Support Group, Legal Services, Assurance Group, Media and Communications, and Service, Victims and Resolutions.

She has extensive experience at New Zealand Police, where she held a range of roles between 2007 and 2023, including as Chief of Staff to former Police Commissioner Mike Bush.

In 2025, Cassandra returned to Police after two years as Deputy Chief Executive of People, Culture & Enabling Services at Oranga Tamariki.

At Police, she was Executive Director of People Capability from 2020 to 2023, undertaking culture and leadership reforms, and overseeing employment relations and professional development. She also reviewed and reformed the Royal New Zealand Police College operating model.

Prior to that she served as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner from 2015 to 2020, and held positions in policy and strategy, focusing on crime prevention and organised crime.

Her earlier career included time as a private secretary at Parliament and a policy advisor in the Ministry of Justice.

She has an Executive Master of Public Administration, a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Māori Resource Management from Victoria University of Wellington. She has also studied at the Australia New Zealand School of Government.