Deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura retiring at end of year, search under way for replacement

Deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura while attending a select committee hearing with Commissioner Richards Chambers. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand’s police executive has suffered another blow with deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura announcing her retirement.

Kura, who has served as a statutory deputy Police Commissioner since April 2023, told the Governor-General on Wednesday of her intention to retire in November this year.

Until earlier this year, Kura served alongside fellow deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.

McSkimming resigned this year after allegations of objectionable material being found on his work computer. It was revealed last week that alleged objectionable material was child sex exploitation and bestiality imagery.

Kura said she had had a “fulfilling, challenging and unbelievably rewarding career”.

“I have had the privilege of policing in a diverse range of communities across the country and working alongside some fantastic people.”

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers acknowledged Kura’s decision.

“Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura has had a long and impressive policing career, working in a number of districts and different roles.

“I have had the opportunity to work with Tania over many years and am very grateful for her commitment and dedication. I want to acknowledge that outstanding service to New Zealand Police and the country and wish her well as she retires from Police.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said this morning that a recruitment process was under way for both deputy roles led by the Public Service Commission.

Statutory Deputy Commissioners of Police are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Mitchell said: “I wish to acknowledge Deputy Commissioner Kura for her service, and I wish her and her family the best for the future”.

According to a biography provided by the Police Minister’s office, Kura has served within the police for 37 years after graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College in 1988.

She started her career as a constable in Christchurch before working her way through the ranks to be Area Commander Hawke’s Bay in 2012 and District Commander Eastern from 2017.

She moved to Wellington in 2020 to be based at Police National Headquarters, taking up the role of Deputy Commissioner Leadership and Capability.

Kura was briefly the interim Police Commissioner in November after the resignation of then-Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. He was replaced by Chambers. McSkimming was thought to be in the running.

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. In 2025, he was a finalist for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.