Opening of Gisborne Police Station

When I was here in March last year, I said I was sure I would be back in Gisborne in June this year to officially open the new station.

 I also said that, given the record of New Zealand Police for bringing new station projects in on time and on budget, I was sure that this Gisborne project would be completed within the project budget of $15.4 million.

 That prediction has also come true. If everything in a politician’s career was so predictable, political life would be a breeze, even if it wasn’t quite as interesting as it sometimes is.

 Coming back to Gisborne for this ceremony is a bit like seeing the family again after a break.

 Most of us who are gathered here today were also gathered here in March last year --- including, of course, Deputy Police Commissioner Lyn Provost, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon, Gisborne Police Area Commander Inspector Waata Shepherd and other Gisborne police staff, and Police National Property Office project director Annabel Bayes.

 I also want to acknowledge a newish member of the Gisborne family, though certainly not a new member of the police family, in Eastern Police District commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle.

 I have run out of fingers and toes for counting the number of new or refurbished police stations that have been opened since our Government was elected in late 1999, but I am told that the new Gisborne station is, in fact, the 32^nd. That’s a record I am proud of.

 As I have said many times before, new or refurbished stations are about more than just bricks and mortar. Apart from allowing police to do their job better and more efficiently in purpose-built facilities, the very existence of a new station provides a strong community reassurance factor.

 I believe our Government’s investment in new infrastructure for police shows our commitment to creating safe and secure communities all around New Zealand.

 I want to congratulate everyone involved in this project --- particularly Annabel, of course; project manager Shatha Al-Sudani; Evan Parkin from Gisborne Police; Richard Daniels, Christine Cooke and Graham Johnstone, from Opus; and, last but certainly not least, Mark Gutry and Craig McCulloch from the builders Watts and Hughes.

 You have all done a magnificent job creating a new police station on this historic site in the heart of the Gisborne CBD, and, in doing so, you have created a new happy face for policing in this region.

 They say that a challenge brings out the best in some people, and this seems to be true of the entire Gisborne Police force.

 Last weekend was certainly a challenge to remember. Fifty staff had just the two days to move 1000 boxes from the old station, a couple of blocks away, to this wonderful new building.

 I'm sure they would like me to acknowledge their co-workers, who kept everyone fed with steak sandwiches cooked on the station barbeque. That rather special sun deck of yours has already proved its worth!

 And meanwhile there was still crime-fighting and road policing to do on the side! Frontline officers kept the policing going from the Kaiti community station, with computers, faxes and phones installed just for the weekend.

 Congratulations again to everyone who has made such a smooth and successful transition possible --- not just on the day, but over the many previous months of preparation as well. 

 The old station was built in the 1960s, originally to cater for just 30 staff, and stories abound about how police staff in Gisborne have had to make do now with makeshift facilities for many years.

So perhaps it is not surprising that makeshift solutions continued right to the end. When it came time to shut the old police station doors for the last time, they refused to lock, and had to be forced shut with broom handles!

 Number eight fencing wire and old-fashioned Kiwi ingenuity, as well as a determination to get the job done even if conditions weren’t ideal, held everything together till the very last day.

 Gisborne now has a police station that we can all be proud of. It not only looks great and is in keeping with the city's heritage, but I am told that it is also working well for the men and women within it. The better the station allows you to do your job, the better it will be for the community you serve.

 We have heard a lot in recent weeks about the importance of policing to our communities. Some of the comments have been provoked by specific and tragic incidents; but law and order issues --- tapping into fears in a community --- often gain more momentum in an election year.

 I said I was proud of the Government’s commitment to rebuilding police infrastructure, but I am also proud of many other initiatives that have been taken in the past two to three years particularly to provide greater safety for all our communities.

 I won’t go into them all today, but in the context of this development in modern policing in Gisborne, I want to briefly mention just some of them. They include:

 ·        The agreement with our confidence and supply partner New Zealand First to recruit 1000 more sworn officers and 250 non-sworn over three years. We are about to enter the third year of the initiative, and recruitment is right on target.

 ·        The development of a modern Policing Bill to bring policing in New Zealand into the 21^st century.

 ·        The development of a new model of community policing tailor-made for New Zealand communities.

 ·        The purchase of modern policing equipment. It is no good recruiting extra police if you do not give them the tools and facilities to do the job.

 ·        And a series of initiatives, including enhanced search and surveillance powers and greater penalties, to deal to organised crime, focusing particularly on areas such as gang activities and white collar crime, including serious fraud.

 There are many other initiatives underway as well, and the investment we have made in policing is paying off in terms of greater resolution rates and falling crime rates in areas such as dishonesty. We still have more to do to bring the road toll down and to tackle domestic violence in particular, but I am encouraged by the progress we are making.

 Thank you again for inviting me to join you today. This modern police station not only houses some 100 Police staff, but also provides accommodation for various community groups, such as victim support. The more it can become a focal point for the community, the better it will serve its purpose.

 The fact that so many people are here today to enjoy this ceremony shows that the building is already establishing its presence in the Gisborne community. That presence will become even more commanding and reassuring in the future. Thank you very much.