For most of these years, Greg led the association’s employment team, demonstrating an extraordinary empathy for sworn staff and Police employees alike. It has not always been easy going and Greg takes with him a few scars from negotiations that have not gone our way – wins are short-lived but you are reminded of the losses for a long time.

Pay round negotiations have always been the most public of challenges. They are complex, involve many variables including underlying issues that members are often unaware of. Despite the many impediments, Greg and his team have achieved results that have generally exceeded expected outcomes. Possibly the biggest negotiations handbrake that Greg has regularly dealt with is the enduring lack of a crisis in policing recruitment or retention. Indeed, it is normally the opposite. Despite what many may think, Police staff remain loyal and the recruitment pipeline is healthy – two features that always advantage the government when it comes to pay talks.

As one of the most competitive people I have ever meet, Greg has always been up for the challenge – be it for all of our members or one lone officer/employee. His background as a longstanding national league football defender (who warmed the bench for New Zealand) may have influenced his drive to take on Police on behalf of a member with a grievance he believed deserving, even one that his colleagues deemed a lost cause. Greg’s perseverance and competitiveness often paid off in a win.

He also led his team to secure memorable remediation victories on issues such as the Holidays Act, “stand by” and motor vehicle reimbursement. They all put a significant amount of dollars in members’ pockets.

While he leaves with the title of the longest serving team leader in the current organisation, Greg’s tenure has been much more than that. He has been the keeper of tradition, regularly reminding us of why, as an association, we exist and what has led us to where we are today. His natural empathy ensured he prioritised the welfare of members during discussions at the senior leadership table.

As national secretary since 2017, he has guarded our rules and an enthusiastic advocate for engaging the next generation of representatives to ensure the association continues well past this current 89th year.

His is a legacy second to none. For his commitment to the wellbeing and enhancement of members’ employment conditions, I have no hesitation in stating that members past, present and future owe Greg a debt of gratitude.

Note: Greg will remain in a part-time support role for 12 months during which he will assist the next leader of the employment team. He remains national secretary and a Police Superannuation Scheme director.