Inspector Paul Basham, the area commander for Kapiti Mana in the Wellington district since 2012, has been provisionally appointed as district commander.
He takes over from Superintendent Mike Pannett who, after taking up the position last January, has since left for a role at police national headquarters.
Deputy Commissioner districts Viv Rickard said the appointment yesterday of Insp Basham, which came alongside two other district head appointments, reflected "calibre and depth of leadership quality".
Insp Basham has more than 25 years’ experience in policing and has spent time in South Auckland and Wellington, including a stint as the head of the district’s CIB.
He had also worked as a relieving Wellington district commander, an area commander in Wairarapa and had been the officer in charge of the Wellington city criminal investigation branch.
"His skills and leadership will be a real asset to the Southern district," Mr Rickard said.
A police spokeswoman said the appointment would remain provisional until police completed the process to confirm the appointment.
Insp Basham was not yet leading the district, a role Canterbury metro area commander Superintendent Lane Todd was filling in the interim, but would take up the appointment "in due course".
Police also announced the appointment of Superintendent Karyn Malthus and Superintendent Tusha Penny to the Auckland Central and Waitemata districts respectively.
Supt Malthus is the Tasman district commander at present and Supt Penny served as the prevention national manager at police national headquarters for the past two years.
