Opening of Kaiapoi Police Station

· Introduction

· Welcome to those in attendance

· It is indeed great to be here in Kaiapoi to officially open the new Kaiapoi Police Station.

· Kaiapoi has had a very long and positive association with the Police.

· The first police officer in Kaiapoi was a local man called William Horton Revell. He was first appointed as a Special Constable in 1854 but resigned later that same year.

· And in February 1855 the residents of Kaiapoi petitioned the Canterbury Provincial Government for a lock-up and a regularly appointed Constable. Authority was given to find a permanent police officer and the specifications and plan for a lock up were produced within 2 days of the petition.

· William Horton Revell was appointed to the position of Sub-Inspector. Revell later went on to become the Superintendent of Police in Westland during the 1860's West Coast gold rush and was later a Magistrate.

· The first police lock-up was built on the northern side of the Kaiapoi River about the same place as this new police station building.

· Other significant events occurred here in 1908 when a new police station was built on the original site. The building cost 670 pounds and 11 shillings.

· Also in the same year of 1908, a long serving Constable called James Holland started duty in Kaiapoi having transferred from Invercargill. He was to stay for 32 years. He was the first constable to own a car and use it for his police duties.

· About 1962 the police station temporarily moved in the court-house next door while a new police station and residence was built.

· The police station was designed as a sole charge station with a garage for the police car.

· But in the mid-1980s, the population of Kaiapoi rapidly expended. The number of Police officers required also increased.

· In 1990 a temporary pre-fab building was placed on the back of the old police station and the garage was turned into an interview room, exhibit store and bicycle store.

· Eventually ten staff worked out of a building built for one.

· And now, it is my pleasure in presenting to you this new Police station - I understand it was built for about $260,000 and the project completed within 3 months.

· In acknowledging the rich history between the Police and the Kaiapoi community, it is understandable that progress of the new police station has been of intense interest in this Kaiapoi community.

· Certainly the need for a new Police Station has been a topic that my colleague here, Waimakariri MP Clayton Cosgrove, has often passionately raised with my Police officials and me.

· I am pleased to say the Government is committed to ensuring the Police maintain a strong presence in Kaiapoi.

· And I am very pleased to declare the new Kaiapoi Police Station open.