Deputy Commissioner: Central and Southern Districts

Tania Kura (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Te Kanawa) joined Police in 1987.

Throughout her career, Tania has relentlessly focused on developing staff and building a strong, positive culture. In 2020 she became the first female police officer to be appointed Deputy Commissioner.

Her current responsibilities include oversight of investigations, serious and organised crime, national security and international policing, media and communications services, the Firearms Safety Authority, and the following Police districts: Eastern, Central, Wellington, Tasman, Canterbury and Southern.

Previously, Tania held the Frontline Operations portfolio where she oversaw day-to-day policing and operations throughout New Zealand. She has also held the Leadership and Capability portfolio with responsibility for the organisation’s strategies and approaches to culture, and people and capability development (including operational capability).

Tania was recruited from Invercargill where she was born and raised. Her first posting was to Christchurch. She was the Area Commander of Hawke’s Bay for five years and was promoted to Eastern District Commander in 2017 where she demonstrated her ability to lead significant cultural change.

She has worked at The Royal New Zealand Police College and in the districts of Canterbury, Southern, Central, Bay of Plenty, and Eastern in a variety of uniform, investigative and leadership areas.

Tania was interim Commissioner of Police from Monday 11 November to Sunday 24 November 2024.