Queen’s Birthday Honours for current and former New Zealand Police staff

Three current or former New Zealand Police officers are among the recipients of Queen’s Birthday Royal Honours announced today.

They are:
• Recently retired Police Commissioner Peter Marshall who becomes a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM);
• former Takapuna policeman Rod Bell, now chief executive of Blue Light, an ONZM - Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit;
• Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum, Counties Manukau Police, a MNZM - Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Commissioner Mike Bush congratulated the trio, and all the other people who have been honoured today for their outstanding contribution to communities across New Zealand.

Citations for the trio highlight some of their achievements.

Peter Marshall, CNZM: for services to NZ Police and the community. Mr Marshall was Commissioner of NZ Police from 2011 to April this year. He led the policing change from a largely responsive model to one of being actively focused on victims and preventing crime. He encouraged a partnership approach to road policing which led to the lowest road toll recorded in the 60 years since records were kept; delivered sustained reductions in recorded crime whilst managing within Police’s allocated budget; and responded to the drive for government organisations to deliver better public services. He was awarded a MNZM in 2000, and was a former Commissioner of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

Gary Lendrum, MNZM: for services to NZ Police and the community. Detective Senior Sergeant Lendrum has consistently provided outstanding service to victims’ families as well as enhancing the NZ Police reputation by conducting thorough investigations. He is highly regarded by his peers in Police and the wider justice sector including prosecutors. A pioneer of and trainer in investigative interviewing, Gary is a mentor and role model for past and present investigators. He’s a leader in intelligence sharing and in crime prevention, and is currently a team leader with the Major Crime Unit for Counties Manukau CIB.

Rod Bell, ONZM: for services to youth. Mr Bell was a police officer with 17 years experience until he left in February 2001. As an accomplished youth aid officer in Takapuna, Mr Bell along with several other police officers was an inaugural member of a steering group involved with setting up Blue Light during the early 1990s. He chaired North Harbour Blue Light, set up Blue Light in North Rodney and in 2011 became the fulltime CEO of this national organisation, having previously taken on the voluntary part time CEO role in 2007. He’s been instrumental in developing a broader range of youth and leadership programmes. More than 200,000 young people are involved with Blue Light annually, with 70 branches nationwide.


Statement from retired Commissioner Peter Marshall – (currently overseas):

"I feel honoured to have received the recognition on behalf of New Zealand Police. I am firmly of the view that our communities are extremely well served by its Police and that will continue under the excellent stewardship of Commissioner Mike Bush and his Executive. Needless to say I am proud to have been a member of Police for nearly 42 years, working with the professional men and women of an organisation who achieve so much."

Ends