Andrew Coster

Andrew Coster (born 1975/1976) is the current New Zealand Police Commissioner and former Deputy Police Commissioner. He has served as the New Zealand Commissioner of Police since 3 April 2020.[2]

Andrew Coster
Coster in 2020
33rd Commissioner of Police
Assumed office
3 April 2020
Preceded byMike Bush
Personal details
Born1975/1976 (age 45–46)[1]

Early life

Coster was born in 1975 or 1976. His father is Professor Gregor Coster, the former Dean of the Wellington Faculty of Health.[1][3]

Coster holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Management from Victoria University of Wellington.[4]

Career

Coster joined the New Zealand Police in 1997 and has worked in both frontline and investigative roles. As his career progressed he was appointed to a number of senior roles, including Auckland City Area Commander, South District Commander. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Coster was the acting Deputy Commissioner: Strategy & Partnerships. While in this role he oversaw the development of firearms reforms introduced by the Government following the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.[5]

Coster has also spent time at the Ministry of Justice, having been seconded on a two-year term from 2016 to 2018 as the Deputy Chief Executive for the Ministry.[6]

In mid-February 2021, Coster's efforts to combat gang and gun violence was criticised by the National Party's Justice spokesperson Simon Bridges, who described Coster as a "wokester commissioner" in a Twitter post.[7] On 25 February, Coster defended the Police's "policing by consent" policies in response to criticism by Bridges during a Justice select committee hearing at the New Zealand Parliament.[8]

References
  1. Manson, Bess (31 May 2020). "National Portrait: Andrew Coster – Top Cop". Stuff. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  2. "New Commissioner of Police appointed". New Zealand Government. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. "Retirement of Professor Gregor Coster" (Press release). Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  4. "Commissioner, Executive and District Commanders". New Zealand Police. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  5. "Andrew Coster named as New Zealand's new police commissioner". Radio New Zealand. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. "2-year secondment to Justice Ministry". Otago Daily Times. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  7. "Police crackdown on guns held by organised crime groups and gangs". Radio New Zealand. 19 February 2021. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  8. McCullough, Yvette (25 February 2021). "Gang crackdown: Simon Bridges, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster face off at select committee". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
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