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We are the only NZ Police oversight body

We are not part of the NZ Police

Under law we are fully independent

If you have a complaint about the NZ Police, you can come to us

Mana Whanonga Pirihimana Motuhake

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Our people

We are a small, focused organisation dedicated to the independent oversight of the Police.

Chair of the Authority

Judge Kenneth Johnston KC

The Chair of the IPCA is a Judge and is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives. The appointment is usually for a five-year term.

Judge Johnston performs a range of executive functions and is supported by a Board and management team. He was appointed for a five-year term commencing 1 May 2023.

Board members

Elizabeth Sinclair 

Andrew Coleman

Our Board members have a range of relevant skills and experience, including knowledge of the law and law enforcement, executive-level management expertise and public sector experience.

Management Team

General Manager
Manager: Investigations
Manager: Assurance
Manager: Resolutions
Manager: Corporate

Investigations and Assurance teams

We have a team that carries out our independent investigations and produces reports on our findings. An Assurance team oversees investigations carried out by Police and carries out our responsibilities to monitor places of Police detention under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). Summaries of our findings on investigations we oversee are also published on our website. Both teams have investigators and senior advisers who come from both policing and non-policing backgrounds.

These teams also undertake thematic reviews of systemic issues that arise in Police policy, practice and procedure.

Resolutions Team

At the forefront of the complaint resolution process is our Resolutions Team. They handle over 4000 complaints each year. They have knowledge and experience of Police and relevant legal experience.

Corporate Team

Our Corporate Team works to support the IPCA with day-to-day operations.

Conflicts of interest

We have systems in place to disclose and manage conflicts of interest involving our staff.

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