Opening of Waiouru Police Station

When I was in Gisborne last week to open that city’s new police station, I praised the magnificent record of New Zealand Police for bringing in building projects on time and within budget.

 They did it in Gisborne. They have done it in many other centres around New Zealand. And now police have done it in Waiouru as well.

 This $745,000 Waiouru project is a tribute to police planning and organisation. As I said in Gisborne, if everything in a politician’s career was as predictable as a police building project, then political life would be a breeze.

 There are a number of people I want to acknowledge today, including, of course, Acting Commissioner Lyn Provost, Central Police District Commander Superintendent Russell Gibson, Area Commander Inspector Steve Mastrovich and Colonel Roger McElwain, Officer Commanding Waiouru Army Base.

 I also want to acknowledge other senior police staff and local police and former police from Waiouru, Taihape, Ohakune, Taumarunui, Raetihi, Turangi, the Highway Patrol and the Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit, as well as other representatives from the Army Base and Corrections staff from Rangipo Prison.

 And I want to specially acknowledge retired police officer Leo Smidt, who served in Waiouru from 1952 to 54, and who was thus on hand, of course, in the aftermath of Tangiwai Disaster.

 And, talking of that tragedy, one of the first police visits I made after becoming Police Minister in late 2005 was to Ohakune Police Station to be briefed on the lahar programme that was in place at that time, and that involved four officers from the Central district dedicated to the programme on a rotating basis.

I was impressed with their enthusiasm for the project and by the way police staff were working so co-operatively with Conservation Department staff and other rescue services.

 As I said at the Gisborne opening, 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 Waiouru station is, in fact, the 33rd. That’s a record I am proud of.

 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 Jonathan Leach, Police National Property Director; Murray Jackson, Central District Business Services Manager (currently on secondment to the Solomon Islands); Mr Brian Elliott, Architect; and Max McKenzie Builders Ltd. You have all done a magnificent job.

 I am advised that because of the shape of the building there was much conjecture early in the construction phase that we were building a church and not a police station. This rumour gained greater credence when the builders became aware of it, and nailed a cross to the top of the construction.

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

 Waiouru now has a police station that we can all be proud of. It not only looks great, but I am told that it is also working well for the police staff within it. The better the station allows you to do your job, the better it will be for the community you serve.

 The community is at the heart of all policing in New Zealand, and we have certainly heard a lot in recent weeks on that theme. 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 Waiouru, I want to briefly mention just some of them. They include:

 ·        Firstly, 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 ahead of target. In fact, NZ Police staff numbers (full-time equivalents) have grown by 10.5 percent in the two years since its current recruitment drive commenced on 1 July 2006. That’s great news.

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

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

 ·        Fourthly, 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 the last thing I want to mention is the 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.

As NZ Police General Manager of Human Resources Wayne Annan says, "the large growth (in police numbers) in such a short period demonstrates the degree to which many New Zealanders like what our organisation stands for and want to be a part of it".

 I couldn’t agree more. I would also add that I am sure that one of the important reasons so many New Zealanders want to join up is the generally fine and often selfless example police set in our communities on a daily basis. We can all be proud of what they achieve.

 Before I finish I also want to acknowledge the important work done by Highway Patrol in the wider Ruapehu area. You have to patrol roads that can regularly be treacherous, and I admire your dedication to road safety.

 The fact that so many people are here today to enjoy this ceremony shows that the building is already establishing its presence in the Waiouru community.

 That presence will become even more commanding and reassuring in the future. Thank you very much for inviting me to join you today.