The Northland Police District’s record wait for a new boss is over as the district welcomed a long-serving officer to the helm.
Superintendent Matt Srhoj follows in the footsteps of former district commander Tony Hill, who left in June last year to lead the Christchurch police. The wait for Hill’s replacement is the longest a district commander position has been advertised in New Zealand since records began in April 2017.
While Srhoj’s 33-year career has been spread across all three of Auckland’s police districts - most recently Counties Manukau - his roots hark back to the Far North.
His great-grandfather moved to Waiharara, at the base of the Aupōuri Peninsula, in 1900 and was a farmer. His dad was raised in the small settlement before the family eventually made their way south to Auckland in the late 1950s.
“I used to holiday up there, used to love going up to Waipapakauri and Waiharara. Meeting family - I had aunties in Awanui... so there’s always been that pull North, I suppose,” Srhoj said.