St John Branigan, 1823/1824?–1873
Born into a humble Catholic family in King’s County, St John Branigan first entered the police force in the Cape Colony (South Africa), and then followed his profession to the Victorian goldfields. When the Otago gold rushes began, Branigan was summoned and he quickly established an effective police force in Otago. In 1869 he was given responsibility for demilitarising the central government’s armed constabulary. He was the most influential police officer in 19th-century New Zealand.
Learn more at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
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Thomas Broham, 1840–1900
Thomas Broham, a Catholic, left his home in County Limerick to join the police force in Victoria, Australia. He then came across the Tasman to New Zealand, where he joined the Canterbury provincial police. In 1864 he went to the West Coast when gold was discovered and took charge of establishing order on the diggings. He was in charge of Westland’s police during the Fenian conflicts of 1868. In his later years his increasing outspokenness cost him dearly.
Learn more at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
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John Cullen, 1850?–1939
Originally from County Leitrim, John Cullen joined the Royal Irish Constabulary before resigning to come to New Zealand in 1876. He joined the New Zealand police and established a reputation as a firm disciplinarian. In 1912 he became the first police commissioner to have risen through the ranks. Despite his Catholic origins, he was supported by Prime Minister William Massey in his efforts to repress perceived enemies of the state. These included the strikers of 1912 at Waihī, those on the Wellington wharves the following year, and prophet Rua Kēnana in the Urewera in 1916.
Learn more at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
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John O'Donovan, 1858–1927
In 1878 John O’Donovan migrated to New Zealand from his birthplace of County Cork, and soon after joined the police force. He rose steadily through the ranks until he became police commissioner in 1916, and served five years. In a time of sectarian tensions he won a reputation for fairness, despite his strong Irish Catholic background.
Learn more at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
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