Tusha Penny
Tusha Penny
Since joining the New Zealand Police in 1992, Superintendent Tusha Penny has worked in both provincial and metropolitan areas. A significant part of her career has been spent in the Criminal Investigation Branch (
Tusha has been pivotal in the change management Police have gone through over recent years in respect of child protection and sexual violence. She was critical in identifying and bringing attention to the systemic failure of Police to address child abuse investigations in the Wairarapa. She led the implementation of a multi-agency centre in Wellington known as "Koru House" which was significant in addressing a lot of the issues found in Operation Hope (the long term investigation of historic child abuse files). Tusha was the first officer to take on the role of National Manager - Child Protection and Sexual Violence in 2011 where she spearheaded a national change management programme to accelerate the Police response to the Commission of Inquiry.
From 2014 Tusha held the role of National Manager: Prevention based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington, working on a major change programme within the Family and Sexual Violence area. This gave her responsibility for family harm, victims and vulnerable whanau initiatives across the country.
In November 2016 Tusha was selected to become the District Commander of Waitemata. She is a powerful advocate for enabling her management team and staff to lead with passion, heart and drive both in their core roles and in the leading of Our Business.
Tusha was named as a Finalist in the 2016 Westpac Women of Influence Awards – an achievement not only because of the award status, but because she was nominated by female Inspectors within her Senior Leadership Team.
Her Iwi is Ngati Porou and she is the first Māori female District Commander in New Zealand Police. Tusha is married with two teenaged children.
