Podcasts about police commissioner andrew coster

There's going to be a major overhaul in the way the Government contracts social services. The Government's announcing what it calls outcomes contracts in a bid to deliver results, but also scrap initiatives that are not working. It's also working on a Social Investment Fund, soon to be spearheaded by social investment secretary and former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis told Mike Hosking there are often multiple contracts coming from different agencies. She says they're spending hours filling in forms and doing what she calls “administrative bureaucracy”. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has made the switch from top cop to head of a new Government initiative. Coster will depart the role early in November - and take over as head of the Government's new Social Investment Agency. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says Coster tried to muscle along following the change of Government last year - but he didn't quite click with the new Government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National once called him the “wokester” commissioner, now they've secured him a plum new job heading up the government's new social investment agency. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is leaving the job of top cop early and joins us to discuss gangs, guns, police pay and being called names by politicians. Plus, it's the hot topic of the week thanks to a Nicola Willis directive. To work from home or not, that is the question. A chief executive and a prominent researcher debate the pros and cons.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announced this week - he is ending his term early, to take up a new role as the head of the Social Investment Agency at the end of the year. Coster was the face of the previous government's push to ‘police by consent' and copped a huge amount of criticism from National when they were in Opposition. The race is on to replace Coster – so who will National pick, and what will that decision say about their approach to tackling law and order? Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald investigative reporter Jared Savage will share his insight into Coster's tenure, and how the Government might change tack. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Susie NordqvistSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No bad blood, that's the message from outgoing Police Commissioner Andrew Coster who is leaving the force early to head up the government's new social investment agency. He begins a 5 year term there in November - meaning he leaves his police role about six months early. Appointed under Labour in 2020, he's had a testy relationship with the National Party - but that once frosty relationship has warmed up, deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

Outgoing Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has accepted there'll be a range of views on whether he's been tough enough on crime.  The top cop, whose been in the role since early 2020, is leaving the role earlier than signalled.  He's stepping down as commissioner in November to lead the new Social Investment Agency.  Coster copped criticism from current Police Minister Mark Mitchell, while he was in opposition.  Andrew Coster told Mike Hosking it seems Police have been more 'in the thick' of politics.  He says they got drawn in to a really law and order focused election.  When it comes to his new job, Coster sees it as the ambulance at the top of the cliff, rather than the bottom.  He told Hosking there's about $70 billion dollars of social services spending per year - something he says he wants to understand to get better results.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25th of September, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is done and moving on in November, six months early. So how did he find his time in the job?  What have the results been from Foodstuffs facial recognition trial and will it be brought out all around the country?    And on Politics Wednesday, things get a bit tetchy between Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen when it comes to Coster and how much is achieved in the first year of a new Government.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Andrew Coster has been an outstanding Police Commissioner - as he takes on a new role Coster has been appointed the head of the Government's Social Investment Agency, stepping down as Commissioner by November. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Andrew Coster faced some pushback when National was in opposition - but Chris Luxon was eager to defend him. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, Andrew Coster has resigned as Police Commissioner and he's got himself a new job. He's going to be running the Government's new Social Investment Agency - and I reckon he's going to be good at this. I acknowledge this might not be a popular appointment, I think a lot of people will see this for what it probably is - which is that it feels an awful lot like a job that's been given to him to get him to leave the police because the Government doesn't want him there. It also reinforces the idea that there's a job merry-go-round in Wellington, which is obviously true. Plus, there'll be questions about why you'd reward somebody for being pretty bad at their previous job, which Coster definitely was. He was a shocker of a Police Commissioner. And all those of those criticisms - many of which are already in my inbox - are completely valid. But setting all that aside, I still think he will be good at this job. This is in his wheelhouse. Andrew Coster never was a crack down on crime guy, he's a cotton wool guy, a believer in people's potential guy, a 'give them another chance' guy. He believes so much in the fence at the top of the cliff that he forgot his job was to actually run the ambulance at the bottom. But this job is fence at the top of the cliff stuff. The point of this agency is to help people before they become criminals and invest in them when they're still babies. That's right up Coster's alley, isn't it? For all of his failings as a Police Commissioner - his inability to be tough on gangs or clear out the Parliamentary protest before it got out of hand - he's actually a very bright and decent guy. I think it was just a case of the wrong job for the wrong guy and I'm happy he's leaving the police. I hope we never have another Commissioner as weak on crime as him, but I think he'll be very good at what he does next - and it is a very important job. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister has confidence Police Commissioner Andrew Coster will fit well into his new role. Coster has led the police since 2020, but will move to become the head of the Social Investment Agency in November. Mark Mitchell says the agency will be at the forefront of dealing with inter-generational social issues. He says he looks forward to seeing Coster succeed in the new position. "The Social Investment Agency's got a big role to play and I think that Andy Coster, when you look at his background and experience - he's the perfect fit for the role." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On our 500th show we thought we'd share that a few weeks ago we received our first lawyers' letter, not a direct threat of legal action, but a interestingly worded email that suggested we should seek legal advice based on an item we showed as a part of a nightly show. We'll go though what happened, who it was, where it is right now and anything else that may be pertinent Tova O'Brien writes today that there is a hold up with the ferries and that might just be between coalition partners with suggestions that Winston Peters is not on board with what National and ACT want to do which, if correct, seems to imply privatisation is on the table as we know Winston's history with not supporting privatisation. . Police Commissioner Andrew Coster is set to lead the Government's Social Investment Agency. It replaces the Social Wellbeing Agency which was part of the Public Service Commission. ================================== Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠ Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 30th of August, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks after police secured a couple of major wins over the gangs this week.  Winston Peters talks his members bill to disband Auckland Transport - and defends Shane Jones' comments about the judiciary.  Beauden Barrett previews the All Blacks v Springboks test at Ellis Park this weekend.  And Mike gives away $5000 to a worthy winner, thanks to Chemist Warehouse.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 27 August 2024, Labour leader Chris Hipkins gets into a fiery argument with Heather over Labour's opposition to oil and gas exploration. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster celebrates a major win over the Head Hunters. The postie union are refusing to deliver a pamphlet in Wellington because they believe it contains misinformation. The Huddle debates whether Labour's in trouble over the oil and gas issue and what to do about bystanders livestreaming the aftermath of a car crash. Plus - Heather reveals her favourite ever one hit wonder.Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say gaps in how they treat people are often explained by things outside of their control.   They commissioned a three-year inquiry which has revealed ongoing inequities in treatment of people based on their race, sexuality, gender, and mental health.   It's offered 40 recommendations.  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Mike Hosking it found there's different outcomes for people they deal with, depending on their background.   He says the report also finds many of the gaps are explained by things upstream of Police, like drug, alcohol, and mental health issues.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen joined Mike Hosking to dig into the biggest political stories of the week so far.  On the agenda:  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster will be gone by April - not seeking a second term in the role.    And what's happening with the layers of health management?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 26 July 2024, NZ Olympic chef de mission Nigel Avery joins Heather from Paris where the Olympics Opening Ceremony is just hours away.  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has announced he won't be seeking a second term. The Crime Prevention Group has high hopes for whoever takes over for him.  The Sports Huddle debates what should happen to the Canadian cheaters at the Olympics after more spying was revealed, and why are the All Blacks so media shy?  Plus, why do Dunedin scientists feature on the latest Kardashian reality show?  Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 24th of June, Associate Finance Minister David Seymour talks our ferries and Police Commissioner Andrew Coster announces more cops on the beat.  Our infrastructure is a mess. Ferries, trains, planes, transmission towers. Boy this Government have a lot to try and solve and the tens of billions they don't have that are needed to solve it.  Guy and Sav regretfully have to cover the woeful Warriors in the Commentary Box. And Mike gives out a prize for what is the most exciting upcoming sporting event.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Community Beat Teams have been announced - 63 additional police staff will be deployed across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.   It's alongside Operation Safer Streets, which will see an extra 21 officers redeployed in Auckland's CBD from July - to target anti-social behaviour.   Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Mike Hosking “We've had visibility as a key priority for a long time.”  Coster said recruitment has turned in a positive direction in the last few months.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 5th of June, we took a look at our mental health services in a big five-year report, and the Aussies seemingly stealing our NZDF personnel.  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster wants a change to our alcohol rules. Plus, Mike was curious what bike he drives.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell joined for Politics Wednesday, digging into the business meeting and youth crime on the rise.    Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster wants tighter alcohol regulation. RNZ has obtained documents under the Official Information Act showing police estimate alcohol harm costs about 7.8 billion dollars a year, compared to $1.8 billion for illegal drugs. Coster says measures should be considered, including only letting bottle stores open in day-time hours and charging more for alcohol. Alcohol Healthwatch executive director Andrew Galloway says these aren't new ideas. "The Government have been presented with these recommendations by both the Law Commission in 2010 and the Ministry of Justice in 2014. So he's not wrong." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks with Susana Lei'ataua about what can be done about knife crime after 16-year-old schoolboy killed in Dunedin.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks to Lisa Owen about the new national taskforce targeting gangs

Police officers are set to spend less time on mental health-related callouts as a new gang crackdown gets under way.  The Police Minister, and Commissioner, have suggested mental health callouts are 'draining' resources.  The pair announced a new specialist gang unit would be set up, confirming some officers would be re-prioritised and some more would be hired.  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Andrew Dickens that at the moment they can end up sitting for hours in emergency departments with someone, waiting for support.  He says they'll attend where Police are absolutely required, but they're not going to stay for hours.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 15th of May, Andrew Dickens filled in for Mike Hosking. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster spoke on the new gang taskforce and what they want the unit to achieve.  Charter schools are back and they're a contentious issue, can they be done well? Alwyn Poole has set up a couple and explained how it needs to be done.  Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell sparred over the new gang unit and charter schools on Politics Wednesday.  Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, you can't keep a good idea down, can you?Strike Force Raptor is back! Do you remember that? That was Simon Bridges' big crime plan when he was the National Party leader in opposition. He announced a dedicated anti-gang police squad called Strike Force Raptor which would go around "harassing and disrupting gangs every single day”. He was mocked for it and the idea was put to bed.And guess what Police Commissioner Andrew Coster just announced today - it's basically the same thing. He's not calling it Strike Force Raptor, but that's basically what it is, it's a specialised National Gang Unit across the country.We're still a little bit light on detail today, Coster couldn't say how many officers there would be or what the targets would be and I'm guessing some of these questions may be answered in the Budget in a couple of weeks.But the the bones of the idea are there, and it's a pretty good idea. Because it's worked in Australia. Strike Force Raptor wasn't our idea, it was set up in New South Wales in 2009. Its numbers got boosted last year, it's won international crime fighting awards. And it was so successful, it had reportedly broken the back of the bikie gangs in Sydney so badly that many of the bikie bosses moved overseas to continue their drug operations - because it had just gotten too hard.  Here, we've just seen the value of hassling the gangs. That gang funeral for the Ponsonby shooter yesterday seemed to be a non-event, because the cops were there en masse to give the gang members a hard time. Compare that to the infamous gang tangi in Optoiki last year, which shut down a main road to citizens, had schools shut and basically just seemed to get out of hand - because the cops were watching from the side of the road and being impotent. It seems like it's a good idea to hassle gangs - who would have thought? Coster can call this whatever he likes, if it keeps the gangs in check, it's a good idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 14 May 2024, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster tells Heather about his plan to crackdown on gangs - but he seems unsure it'll actually work. Prime Minister Chris Luxon speaks to Heather about the decision to turn the Christchurch Call into a charitable foundation - without taxpayer funding. The Block host Mark Richardson on finding out from the media that the show had been cancelled. The Huddle debates whether the new gang taskforce will make a difference in reducing crime. Plus, the uncomfortable truth Millennials need to hear about their socks. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you feel as though you've been living in some kind of whack job, futuristic Netflix series when it comes to this country's deplorable attitude to crime and our increasingly farcical judicial system you were probably suitably blown away by yesterday's announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster.  Finally, there is good news. Finally, there's hope that we'll get to re-establish more than a modicum of control over the growing numbers of gangs and gang members.  Police are establishing a national gang unit, supported by 'district gang disruption teams', to target crime, harm, and intimidation caused by patched gang members. All I can say is it's about time.  It's about time that someone took this feral issue by the nostrils and led it out and beyond the growing levels of complacency and the general acceptance we've been conditioned and subjected to – for far too long.    The all-new police national team, will work with police districts across the country, drawing on joint operations to gang funerals and other acts of general criminal nuisance and stupidity. Hopefully this will also mean that the police aren't lagging behind in gang related intelligence.  What we've seen in the past have been poorly funded strategies that the gangs know are flawed from the outset, allowing them to keep their criminal wheels turning, or spinning and burning out as is more often the case.  The Police Commissioner, Andrew Coster says there'll be 25 to 30 staff forming the new national unit while the smaller district teams will be about seven officers.  Andrew Coster also believes there'll be a reduction in gang numbers, once they get the units up and running and get the tools the government was providing through brand new legislation.  Not only have we seen this huge change in political direction, the general law-abiding public has been demanding big change like this for a very long time.  It's utterly inconceivable that we haven't made this move until now, and it's a complete blight on all previous politicians who failed to let things get to this stage.  There are 9000 pathed gang members in New Zealand today; the same numbers as the population of Queenstown.  Here's hoping those gang member numbers head to zero at speed before we get another change of government who do a U turn on this overdue policy. Congratulations Andew Coster and Police Minister Mark Mitchell. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new National Gang Unit has been announced by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. Gang disruption units will also be set up around the country , designed to disrupt and target offenders.  The news was announced at a media conference in Auckland also attended by the Police Minister, Mark Mitchell

Late in the show yesterday, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster along with Police Minister Mark Mitchell announced they would be introducing a National Gang Unit to crack down on gang crime and gangs' anti-social behaviour.   Coster said police know gang members commit a large amount of the crime in New Zealand. I don't think it's a state secret. I think most of us are well aware that the gangs are either committing it, or behind a large amount of the crime in New Zealand. He says 8% of all violence and 18% of serious violence. I'd love to know how many robberies and ram raids they were behind too, using young children to do the actual dirty work.  The National Gang Unit would be a dedicated, specialised gang unit of 25-30 people with ring-fenced staff of up to seven staff in every police district across the country.   Coster said this action will be a continuation of Operation Cobalt. Fabulous. You might've seen the results of Operation Cobalt in the crime and the court news, numbers of gang members up before the courts getting prosecuted, getting assets stripped. The proceeds of the Crime Act are well and truly in force and in play with all the bling, and the diamond studs, and the gold chains, and the cars, and the motorbikes being seized by police, all as a result of Operation Cobalt.   All well and good, and precisely what this coalition Government campaigned on. And to be fair, Operation Cobalt was in play in the last administration as well, but people were sick to death of seeing gang violence, senseless deaths in the name of protecting patches, the flouting of laws on a daily basis, and just the general swagger. I live outside the law. I don't obey the same rules, I don't care, two fingers to you. And they were allowed to get away with it for far too long.  So, cool.  I'm glad the government is doing what they said they were going to do and cracking down on the gangs, but you have to get the buy in from the police, and according to the Police Association President Chris Cahill there won't be any extra resources or staff for this new national gang unit.   “The real problem with this announcement is it's come with no actual facts around what the extra resourcing will be, what the extra budget will be. And if it doesn't have those things attached to it, you're just asking the same staff to do more work, or you're just moving stuff around, and so we really want to see the facts behind that.  “Look, it's great to have a focus, but as I say, we're already overworked and what are we gonna drop? I mean, the Commissioner yesterday said we'll be doing less mental health and less family harm, but we've been hearing that story for a couple of years now and it just hasn't happened. So, there's a fair bit of scepticism out there. I mean, officers are pretty keen to get into these gangs, they know they've had, you know, far too much leeway and not enough emphasis on policing them, but they're just bogged down with the amount of work they've got at the moment.”  I know that the Police Association is in the middle of pay negotiations with the government so there'll be a bit of ‘argy bargy' and a little bit of jockeying for position going on, but seriously - wouldn't it have been a much more powerful statement if you'd had the PA standing alongside the Minister and the Commissioner? If they had all come out together and said we are united in reducing the harm being done to families, to communities, and to society from the gangs and the misery they perpetuate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has been asked to fund an Auckland based police training college to help reach its target of 500 additional officers in two years. Figures released to Checkpoint show it will be almost impossible to deliver on that promise without significant recruitment changes. In the past 4 years, the number of new police graduating from the wellington training college, currently the only one in the country, has been well below the facilities capacity. Add to that, a briefing to the government saying the current intake rates are probably only just enough to cover attrition. Meanwhile Checkpoint has discovered the cash strapped force is asking some police to return their body armour, so it can be given to others and has cut a number of special courses for sworn officers. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster speaks to Lisa Owen.

Top stories for Monday 26 February 2024: Wearing gang patches in public will soon be illegal. We speak to the government about the move, as well as the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster about that and other new tougher policies on gangs. Companies are being sentenced today for failures in the lead-up to the deadly Whakaari White Island eruption. The motorsport community is in shock after two people died during a rallysprint race in Northland. The first athletes have been named for New Zealand's Olympic team for Paris - a pair of speed climbers.

The Government is progressing a ban on gang patches this week, even though the policy's legality and enforceability are unclear. The coalition will introduce legislation to Parliament to outlaw gang patches in public places. The Police Association supports the changes but says they may be hard to enforce, as gang members won't want to give up their patches. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Public sector agencies have been directed to find cost savings ranging from 6.5-7.5% on average.  Public Service Minister Nicola Willis told a separate hearing about the public service yesterday that organisations like Police are very much not exempt.  She expects Police to put forward options that don't compromise service delivery.  Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Mike Hosking that it comes alongside successive Governments have been keen to see Police headcount grow.  He says that has the effect of driving all other costs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says demand for police to respond to social harm is displacing their ability to attend other jobs.The briefing to the new minister included proposing going less to family harm callouts, which have risen 80 percent in the past 10 years. Commissioner Andrew Coster says officers would like to be doing more work only police can do. He says a managed withdrawal from harm callouts is the only way to free them up. "The ideal situation here would be that others step up to deal with this demand, because arguably- help should be available in some of these situations." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bolstering the thin blue line will require a substantially fatter budget, according to the police commissioner. The government's promising five hundred new frontline police in the next two years and Police Minister Mark Mitchell is clear he wants more of them on the community beat and the return of a police hub in Auckland's CBD, after the downtown station closed in 20-13. At the same time the government's signalled across the board, belt tightening. The Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says while he shares the Minister's goals, they're are going to cost more money. Andrew Coster speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6345851219112

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Police Minister Mark Mitchell has released a letter of expectations for Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. The pair seem to be unified about these expectations- can Coster meet these standards?  Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today put forward a motion calling for those involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. What did we think of Luxon's response? Treasury has criticised Labour's 'underfunded' plan for transport. Does this cement the previous Government's legacy of non-delivery? Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year- did she deserve it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says he's aligned with the new Police Minister on the changes needed for law and order. Minister Mark Mitchell has publicly released a letter, outlining his expectations for Commissioner Andrew Coster. That includes refocusing efforts on strengthening policing in communities, removing gang patches and cracking down on youth crime. Coster says officers essentially need to spend less time doing the business of others. "Which we do substantially in the social arena, particularly family harm where there's no violence, mental health- we need to be able to increase our visibility." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police union says the new Minister's expectations are very clear, but it's less clear how they can be achieved, while having to make cost savings.Mark Mitchell met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster yesterday and released a letter afterwards setting out what he expects, including more of a focus on core policing with a back-to-basics approach. Mr Mitchell says he wants a more visible police presence and new legislation used to crack down on gangs. But he also told the Police Commissioner that police would still have to find cost savings, just as other government agencies and departments do. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill, says police are already struggling to retain officers, and it's going to be tough to deliver what the government wants without more resources.

Party leaders have traded barbs in the first Parliamentary debate since the election, we have all the highlights; Incoming Police Minister Mark Mitchell says he's confident Police Commissioner Andrew Coster can get the job done; We'll have the latest from Gaza, as fighting intensifies in the south; A wastewater treatment plant is causing a stink in Lower Hutt; Modelling has found a nearly 25 percent chance Wellington may need harsh water restrictions this summer; and Waka Kotahi has been exaggerating claims about how green its road building is.

Mark Mitchell says he has confidence in Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and is looking forward to working with him.   The new Police Minister has made public a letter he wrote to Coster outlining his focuses.   Mitchell says he's keen to put Coster's approach under Labour in the past.   He told Mike Hosking that much of what he criticised him for was actually because of who was in Government.   Mitchell says it was Labour's responsibility for policy Mitchell was against, like reducing prison populations and removing three strikes.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Government has set out its expectations for how the Commissioner of Police should do his job. The publicly-released letter calls for frontline officers to be considered the priority when investment decisions are made. It also reminds Coster of his responsibility to deliver on the Government's law and order commitments. That includes plans to ban gang patches, give police greater powers to search gang members and begin cracking down on youth offending. Police Minister Mark Mitchell says he thinks it's the first time a letter like this has been made public.  "There's been a loss of confidence around the Labour Government and their failure to take public safety seriously or put public safety at the heart of what they're doing, I thought it was important to have a reset." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Returning to our earlier story about the fatal shootings at an Auckland construction site. The 24 year old gunman was on home detention for family violence charges, but police say he was allowed to go to the contruction site at One Queen street where he had worked. Matu Tangi Matua Reid did not have a gun license but was armed with a pump action shotgun when he went on his rampage. Two people were killed, Reid is also dead. Several others were injured, some of them seriously, including a police officer who was shot while the gunman was holed up and firing from a lift shaft in the building. A second officer was also taken to hospital. So far 70 witnesses have been interviewed. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says it's believed the man had worked there. McGuinness Building contractors, who are working on the site, provided a statement to Checkpoint. It says today's tragic event has been a huge shock to us all. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and all those impacted by the incident that occurred on our site this morning. We thank the Police and emergency services for their rapid response. Our site team conducted themselves with great courage today and we are providing all our staff and contractors continuing care and support. We understand the perpetrator was an employee of a subcontractor that had been working on the project. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6331520228112

More details are emerging about the timeline of yesterday's construction site shooting in central Auckland. Armed police were on site in minutes after the shooting began about 7.30am yesterday. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has revealed to Mike Hosking members of the Armed Offenders Squad training nearby rushed to the scene, quickly joined by staff from further afield. “We had staff response from all over Auckland and we have now quite a good prescence of AOS trained staff on the front line. The staff who went into the building – and there was quite a number of them – came from many different working groups.”The death toll remains at three, including the gunman. Coster says the conditions of the 10 injured people is improving. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are continuing to work hard following the shooting in downtown Auckland. Two people were killed and 10 were injured when a gunman opened fire in a building that was being renovated on lower Queen Street this morning. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says there's still a lot to do. "We're working to identify victims and notifying next of kin for our two people who were shot. So that's all still very much work in progress and lots of witnesses for our team to interview." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says he would not have done anything differently in the police handling of the protest and occupation of Parliament grounds last year. That's despite the Police watchdog's report detailing how many officers were sent to quell the riot on the last day of the occupation without proper protective gear. Officers themselves described the lack of equipment as "absolutely shambolic", and "foreseeable and avoidable". [picture id="4LVE2S6_copyright_image_288456" crop="16x10" layout="full"] The IPCA says a number of officers were injured as a direct result. Coster spoke to Corin Dann.

The top cop says Police planned for the Parliament protests last year to the best of their ability. The Independent Police Conduct Authority review of how police handled the occupation is out. Overall, it found police served the public well, but the watchdog has made 14 recommendations for improvement. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Tim Dower it's a 'one in 40 year' incident. "How you maintain a high-level of readiness for the extreme event, when what you deal with day to day is a different set of circumstances and that will always be a challenge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A phone call with a mate has ended Stuart Nash's second turn as Police Minister. The problem is, that mate was Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. An error of judgement - is how the Prime Minister's described the call, after Nash criticised a court judgement, and admitted asking the Police Commissioner if he was going to appeal that judgement. That's a breach of the Cabinet Manual. The Opposition says Nash should be gone as a minister altogether. Political reporter Giles Dexter has more.

National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell says the government's response on crime in Hawke's Bay after Cyclone Gabrielle has been too slow. The Prime Minister has announced more police are being sent in, despite initially hosing down residents' concerns. Police have repeatedly said there been no increase in crime, despite residents sharing harrowing experiences. But today Chris Hipkins addressed safety concerns. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster talks to Lisa Owen.

There has been an increase in family harm incidents reported to police since Cyclone Gabrielle hit. The Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says reports of dishonesty offences are actually fewer than normal.  Coster says 60 people have been arrested in Tai Rāwhiti and Hawke's Bay since the Cyclone hit.

New Zealand authorities are celebrating intercepting more than three tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean.  The bust is the largest find by "some margin" with an estimated street value of half a billion dollars. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says it was enough cocaine to service the Australian market for one year - or the New Zealand market for 30.  He spoke to Guyon Espiner.