Hawke's Bay's new top cop a woman

Hawke's Bay has a new top police officer - its first female commander - after the amalgamation of the police commands of Napier and Hastings.

The move is a rationalisation of police administration in the region.

Inspector Tania Kura - a senior Police College instructor - will take up her appointment in July, Eastern Police District communications manager Kris McGehan confirmed.

The commands of the previous separate Napier and Hastings areas are being "disestablished" and alternatives are being considered for the two officers affected, Inspector Kevin Kalff (Napier) and Inspector Dean Clifford (Hastings).

Ms Kura has been head of the police college's School of Patrol and Operational Policing since mid 2009, at which time partner Detective Inspector Dave Archibald was made officer-in-charge of the college's School of Investigation and Intelligence.

They had previously served in the Bay of Plenty, where Ms Kura in 2005 became the first female senior sergeant in charge of Mt Maunganui police.

In January, Hastings CIB officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Dave De Lange was made head of a new Hawke's Bay CIB in a merger of the Hastings and Napier CIBs.

Superintendent Sam Hoyle remains commander of the police Eastern District, which includes the Gisborne area.