New chief cop a man of many talents (+pics)

Taupo police area commander Inspector Warwick Morehu took on his new role today.

He's been a movie star, a kapa haka leader, a Bay of Plenty Steamer and now he's the new Taupo police area commander.

Inspector Warwick Morehu was today officially welcomed to his new role as the leader of the Taupo police team.

Mr Morehu joined the police in 1988 and was first posted to Rotorua.

During that time he was a constable working in general duties, a community officer, a detective in CIB and in the Armed Offender's Squad. He was promoted to frontline sergeant in 1997 and further promoted in 2002 to senior sergeant and officer in charge of Opotiki Police Station.

In 2009 he moved to Kawerau as a senior sergeant and was promoted to inspector in 2011 working in the youth and communities section in Counties Manukau.

In 2013 he became the area prevention manager in Papakura before returning to the Bay of Plenty last year as the youth and community manager.

Mr Morehu said yesterday he was "really excited" to take on the role.

"I'm really excited to be in a position to influence something really special in terms of looking for better outcomes."

He said he was looking forward to sitting down with members of the community to find better solutions.

"I have the numbers but that only gives me part of the picture. I want to get out to the staff and communities and talk to iwi to find out what their experiences are and how we can get there as a collective."

Out of the blue uniform, Mr Morehu has played 101 first-class rugby games wearing the Bay of Plenty Steamers or King Country jersey or with his Whakarewarewa side.

In 1999 Mr Morehu became the face of the World Cup Rugby campaign.

About 400 billboards featuring Mr Morehu with a computer-enhanced moko were put up throughout Europe and, a television advertisement showing him performing the haka with the All Blacks, screened in 42 countries.

He has also performed as the male leader in local kapa hapa groups and starred in the film What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted (the sequel to Once Were Warriors) in 2011.