He says that, as tragic as events such as the Mauao landslips<\/a> and murder cases are, helping to ease grief in times of high stress was one of the many reasons he loved his career.<\/p>\n \u201cLike in the George Taiaroa murder case, it doesn\u2019t bring the person back, but it brings closure. Being able to ease that grief is really humbling, and we are in a privileged position to be able to do that … It is satisfying to do a really good job for victims of trauma.\u201d<\/p>\n Anderson beams with pride when he talks about the Bay of Plenty police staff.<\/p>\n While he means no bias, he firmly believes they are some of the best police officers<\/a> he\u2019s worked with.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also proud of how emergency services worked on the recovery operation at Mauao<\/a>.<\/p>\n Police were on standby the day before, waiting for the weather bomb.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a couple of meetings and sent staff home to come back at night.\u201d<\/p>\n Anderson was called in about 4am on January 22 following the Welcome Bay slip <\/a>that killed two people.<\/p>\n He was in a meeting when word came through about the Mauao slip.<\/p>\n It was then full-on as the response was set up.<\/p>\n Anderson says words cannot describe how good the crews were in the days that followed.<\/p>\n \u201cI get to see them at work, and I think if the average Kiwi could see them at times of high stress and tragedy, which was what that was, they would be extremely humbled … The care they have, the passion they display, and they do it with dignity, respect, humility and in a fashion that probably eases the grief.\u201d<\/p>\n Anderson believes the actions of some staff would affect how some of those families dealt with losing their loved ones that way.<\/p>\n \u201cSome will always remember the family liaison who looked after them, or the DVI disaster victim identification] crew who carefully recovered the loved ones for the families.\u201d<\/p>\n New police headquarters role<\/p>\n Anderson is one of three new assistant commissioners<\/a> appointed in December. They were due to start this month. <\/p>\n His promotion was announced alongside Superintendent Jeanette Park (Eastern district commander) and Superintendent Corrie Parnell (Wellington district commander).<\/p>\n Descended from Te Atihaunui a P\u0101p\u0101rangi iwi in the Whanganui area, Anderson will be looking after iwi and community partnerships in his new portfolio.<\/p>\n The new appointments follow Assistant Commissioner Mike Pannett\u2019s elevation to statutory deputy commissioner. Jill Rogers was also appointed a deputy commissioner. <\/p>\n The deputy commissioner roles were vacant following Tania Kura\u2019s retirement in July<\/a> after 37 years of service, and the departure in May of Jevon McSkimming, later convicted of possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material<\/a>.<\/p>\n Anderson\u2019s police career<\/p>\n Anderson officially became Bay of Plenty district commander in September 2022.<\/p>\n He was no stranger to the district, having worked in the region several times.<\/p>\n He took over the role previously held by Superintendent Andy McGregor, who retired in June 2022.<\/p>\n Anderson holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Auckland\u2019s School of Law, majoring in International Criminal Law and Employment Law. <\/p>\n He joined the police in 1994 and has held a range of appointments across Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.<\/p>\n As a senior sergeant, he managed the prosecution offices in Auckland. In 2008, he moved to Rotorua as a detective senior sergeant and was later promoted to detective inspector as the district crime manager.<\/p>\n Anderson has also served as the country\u2019s national crime manager for three years, leading the National Criminal Investigation Group as detective superintendent. <\/p>\n This national group is comprised of covert policing units across New Zealand, cyber crime, digital and physical forensics units, child protection and adult sexual assault investigations and CIB training standards. <\/p>\n He came back to the Bay of Plenty at a time when Rotorua had struggled with homelessness.<\/p>\n He praises the work of Rotorua area commander Inspector Herby Ngawhika<\/a> to help turn the city around, including the introduction of the city centre beat team<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThey have cleaned up the CBD, and it is a much nicer place<\/a> now. You can see it, and you can feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked if he\u2019d ever return to his beloved Bay of Plenty or if he had his sights set on the commissioner\u2019s job one day, Anderson shrugs. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t call myself ambitious, but in this one organisation I\u2019ve had a role change every two to four years because I like to be challenged … I think it\u2019s healthy for leadership roles to change because it gives other people a go and helps keep ideas fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n Whatever role he plays, he wants to always ensure he never loses sight of the real people at the coal face.<\/p>\n He is also confident that the dark days that clouded New Zealand Police following the McSkimming fallout are behind them.<\/p>\n High praise given<\/p>\n People who have worked closely with Anderson wish him well for his new career, while praising his work.<\/p>\n Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell says Rotorua has been fortunate to have Anderson serving the wider region.<\/p>\n \u201cHis experience and compassion for community safety means he leaves this role having made Rotorua better, and we thank him for the leadership he showed during challenging times. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was an honour to work alongside him and his team and see major wins such as more police, and a much safer inner city.\u201d<\/p>\nSuperintendent Tim Anderson speaks at a media conference on January 22, the day of the Mauao slips. Photo \/ Alyse Wright<\/p>\n
Tim Anderson (right) and Police Minister Mark Mitchell leave a media conference at the Mauao slip site. Photo \/ Alyse Wright <\/p>\n
Superintendent Corrie Parnell (Wellington district commander), Superintendent Jeanette Park (Eastern district commander) and Superintendent Tim Anderson (Bay of Plenty district commander) have been appointed as assistant commissioners. <\/p>\n
Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Tim Anderson in 2022. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
Detective Inspector Tim Anderson and now retired Detective Inspector Mark Loper in 2020. Photo \/ Christine Cornege<\/p>\n
Police Minister Mark Mitchell with Superintendent Tim Anderson, (left) Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell and Rotorua area commander Inspector Herby Ngawhika. Photo \/ Annabel Reid<\/p>\n