Southern district commander Superintendent Andrew Coster will begin his new Wellington-based role as Assistant Commissioner: strategy and transformation on Monday, leaving behind the district he has headed for the past 22 months.
''I'm very proud of what we've achieved in Southern district over the last couple of years,'' he told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
''Whilst I would very much have liked to be an ongoing part of what's happening here, I'm looking forward to this new opportunity. Likewise, I'm very confident in the leadership team now in place in Southern district and its ability to continue on its current trajectory.''
Supt Coster's new role was established after the national strategy group based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington was restructured recently.
The role contributes to the implementation of strategy and change programmes, and includes oversight of police mobility and information technology.
The role will play a part in connecting police with the wider social and justice sectors and co-ordinating their efforts.
Supt Coster said the process for finding his replacement was ''well advanced, with interviews to occur shortly''.
''There should only be a short period of relieving required until my successor arrives,'' he said.
His wife, Jo, and three boys will see out the school year in Dunedin before joining him in Wellington.
Supt Coster joined the police at age 21 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an inspector at 30.
He began as Southern district commander in October 2013.
