Bruce Cotterill: Leaders Getting Coffee – Episode 17 – With Mike Bush

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 17, our guest is former Police Commissioner, Mike Bush.

Mike Bush joined the Police at the age of 18 and stayed for 42 years. He spent six years in the top job before retiring in 2020.

Over recent years we’ve seen crime on the increase, particularly that perpetuated by younger people. Mike talks with Bruce about the growing crime problems in New Zealand, the challenges of dealing with imported crime that comes with immigration, and the war on drugs and gangs.

He offers an interesting perspective on the challenges in dealing with young offenders, and how so called “boot camp” policies can be amended in order to become more effective for the young people who have much to gain from such programmes.

There is also an interesting discussion about the much maligned Oranga Tamariki, and the challenges faced by the young people who come into contact with that organisation as well as those whose job is to try to help them.

And we learn about policing as a career, one which Mike Bush would highly recommend to any young person thinking about an alternative to a university education or a trade.

Episode 17 of Leaders Getting Coffee provides another unique leadership story. A story about a young man from Rotorua, who wanted to be a cop.

Download it here.

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