1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: So we've got our new police Commissioner, Richard Chambers, takes 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: over from Andrew Costa, raccopper since nineteen ninety sixty, starts 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: his first five year term on Monday, and Richard Chambers 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: is with us. A very good morning to you. 5 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 2: Good morning, Mike, and thanks for the opportunity to chat. 6 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: This morning, not at all in congratulations. Did you join 7 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,280 Speaker 1: the police in ninety six with a view to becoming 8 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: higher up? 9 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: No, I didn't, actually, Mike. I joined because I just 10 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 2: wanted to be a good frontline copper and I love 11 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 2: my time on the front line, and that's why I'm 12 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 2: still really focused on, you know, what happens across our 13 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: country every day and every night by our wonderful frontline staff. 14 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: How would you describe the current state of the police 15 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: force in this country? 16 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, I mean, you know, the policing is a 17 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: fascinating career which changes the variety the opportunities that we get. 18 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: You know, it's a great career and you know we've 19 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: had our challenges. You've got to remember that the men 20 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: and women of New Zealand Police are normal people just 21 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 2: like me. Mum's deads sons and daughters, and you know, 22 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: is tough. It's really tough where human beings do doing 23 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 2: our best and we're adapting to changes, you know, and 24 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: expectations of public So you know, it's a great occupation, 25 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 2: great career, and we're a bunch of fine people doing 26 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: God's work and it's great to be a payer of 27 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 2: the police. 28 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: Are you cognizant that you joined at a time I 29 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 1: was looking at a list of previous police commissioners. I 30 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: think most New Zealanders could name Costa, probably most would 31 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 1: name Bush. Before that I'd start to struggle. And I've 32 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: been in the media for forty years. You're joining it 33 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: at a time when the police commissioner is a household name. 34 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: Is that good? And does it worry you? 35 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 2: Well? It's an important, important role, Mike. We all understand 36 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,120 Speaker 2: that you know, public safety and security. You know, there 37 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: are issues that are critically important to all New Zealanders, 38 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: So of course it's it's a high profile role. You know, 39 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: my frontline staff, they are the heart and soul of 40 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: policing in New Zealand, and that's why my job is 41 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: to ensure that they are well supported. So it's good 42 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: to see that, you know, New Zealanders take policing and 43 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: their safety and their security. Seriously. So we've got a 44 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: big job to do and it's an absolute privilege for 45 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 2: me to leave the organization. 46 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: And do you have enough resource to do that job? 47 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: Oh? Look, we have fifteen thousand incredible staff across the 48 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: country and off shore, and we will do our absolute 49 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: best with the resources that we have. And I'm confident 50 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: that we're going to make a real positive difference over 51 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: the next few years. 52 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: And although you don't officially start until Monday, you join 53 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 1: us this morning. Of course. With the new gang laws, 54 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: are they good laws? 55 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: Well, I mean three minutes past midnight last night, my 56 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 2: staff and Hastings stopped the vehicle an individual disclaying Gang 57 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 2: Sydney insignia in a public place and they're now facing 58 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: prosecution for that. So you know, I mean, we work 59 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 2: with the laws. Our job is law enforcement, and my 60 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: staff will adapt and do a marvelous job. We won't 61 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: always get it right, they might, you know, sometimes we 62 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 2: make this That's why I say, with human beings. But 63 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: so long as we approach the work that we do 64 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 2: with a learning mindset and wanting to be better than 65 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 2: you know, we're in a good position to adapt to 66 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:11,559 Speaker 2: any challenge. 67 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: And did that situation at three minutes past midnight go down? Well? 68 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: Did it? 69 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 1: Or was there some ankst around me? 70 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 2: No? No, My staff did a marvelous job. I dealt 71 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 2: with it incredibly professionally. The person that we were interacting 72 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: with was respectful to the police staff. So I'm you know, 73 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 2: I'm happy with how that went, and I suspect there'll 74 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: be more such interactions to come. 75 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: We'll talk over the next five years. Appreciate your time. 76 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: Go well. Richard Chambers, the new police Commissioner. For more 77 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 1: from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks 78 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast 79 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.