"I am honoured to have been appointed as the next Commissioner of the New Zealand Police.
"Since joining the Police in 1978 as a young constable I am passionate about this job. I come to work every day knowing that I am part of an organisation that has a major impact upon people's lives.
"NZ Police has an enviable international reputation and we are proud to hold the trust and confidence of the public.
"I would like to pay tribute to the current Commissioner of Police, Peter Marshall.
"Peter Marshall has championed change at Police in order to deliver better results to the Government and New Zealanders and to better support the victims of crime. Under his leadership, reported crime and road deaths have continued to fall and Police are spending more time focused on supporting victims and the community through a prevention-based approach.
"We are building a truly innovative and modern policing service and I am committed to continuing that journey and taking policing to the next level.
"My leadership priorities for the role will be delivering the results important to New Zealanders, being safe and feeling safe in our communities and putting victims at the heart of everything we do. I will continue the visible leadership role of the Commissioner of Police, both within Police and externally."
END
Editors note: Mr Bush begins in the role on April 3
Issued by:
Grant Ogilvie, 04 474 9476