Pacific Police Fono

Speech opening Pacific Police Fono, Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Road, Porirua

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Talofa ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and warm Pacific greetings to you all.

It is a great pleasure to be here this morning opening the New Zealand Pacific Policing Fono for 2008.  I bring apologies from my colleague the Police Minister, Annette King who could not be here today but sends her best wishes for a successful fono.

Thank you to Superintendent Mike Wilson for your warm introduction. 

I would like to acknowledge the Samoan Police Commissioner Papali'I Lorenese Nru who is joining you for the day.  I would also like to acknowledge Superintendent Wally Haumaha.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the work that all of you do as Pacific Liaison Officers across the country and throughout our Pacific communities.  I acknowledge your elders and leaders both past and present who in their endeavours have provided strong encouragement and leadership to you as officers to help make this country a safer place for all Pacific peoples.

In the dark days of the Dawn Raids, Pacific officers were sought to join the Police because of their ability to uphold the rule of law, converse in their Pacific languages and who displayed an understanding of the cultures.  I know firsthand of the courage, determination and perseverance of these officers who often had to put up with a very trying work environment.  One of these officers, who have been described as 'trail blazers', was my brother Ken Laban - who I am told you will hear from later in the week!

We now have a diverse Police organisation, and I would like to take a moment to reflect on Pacific staff rank and gender in the New Zealand Police today.

The current longest serving Pacific officer is Senior Sergeant Willie Fanene who is a Prosecutor based in Auckland.  Willie was also a 'trail blazer' and has 31 years service under his belt, which I am sure you will agree is very impressive.

Superintendent Tony Annandale is the highest ranking officer as the Executive Director of the Pacific Island Chiefs of Police, based in Wellington.

I am told that there are also some "firsts" to be proud of in the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) where Detective Inspector Sam Aberahama was the first Pacific Detective to achieve the rank of Crime Manager (Eastern District).  Detective Inspector Sue Schwalger was the first female officer from any ethnic group to achieve the rank of Crime Manager (Sue is now based in Palmeston North).

From the last count there are eight Commissioned Officers of Pacific Island descent in the Police and three senior managers in non sworn roles, with Pacific people making up 4.5 per cent of the total Police staff. 

There is currently an active effort to recruit Pacific officers, male and female, to reflect the face of the communities in which you serve, as strong Pacific leadership and presence is important for the Police's relationship with our Pacific communities. 

Pacific people have a particular set of cultural values.  These values have been passed down by our ancestors through our families and our communities.  As a Samoan, I know my community is based on families and extended families. The Samoan words are aiga, aigapotopoto.

Our community in turn is based on the Samoan values of alofa, fa’aaloalo, and agaga - love, respect, reciprocity and spirituality. These values are demonstrated through tautua – service, which you as Police officers in our communities know a lot about!

Our other Pacific Island communities are based on similar values and I regularly meet with many strong Pacific families who work tirelessly for our communities and are committed to positive community values. 

Census 2006 showed that 6.9 per cent of New Zealand's population is made up of Pacific people.  It also illustrated that all our Pacific ethnic groups have very youthful populations. 

Our young people are bright, energetic and full of potential.  These are strengths that both we in Pacific communities and Police, must draw on and use to our best advantage to counter some of the challenges ahead.

As Pacific Liaison Officers you are stand-out role models for our people, influential in the communities you serve. 

Police talk often about the importance of partnerships and working together to better secure our communities.  Through your efforts and work as liaison officers it is your role to ensure that these partnerships are strong, meaningful and of relevance to our Pacific people.  

The reason that you have been chosen to attend this forum is because you are all leaders in your own right.  As leaders it is you that must have a clear picture of what your community looks like, and what it should look like. 

Over the next few days you will not only have the opportunity to participate in high-level dialogue concerning the key influences on crime and Policing, but you will also have an invaluable opportunity to network with your colleagues and friends to talk about issues such as:

·       the reassurance of Pacific communities;

·       reducing Pacific offending by Policing with confidence;

·       and developing effective policing practices to work with Pacific communities.

I understand that you will discuss the Police Strategic Plan to 2010 and consider whether the framework provides Pacific communities with the confidence to work together to address local priorities.  It guides the opportunity to forge strong partnerships and to participate in making key decisions that will protect our Pacific communities. 

This week will be an ideal opportunity to measure whether in the current climate this is happening or not.  If not what can you, in your role as Pacific Liaison Officers, do about it.

You will hear from many experts over the next few days in a range of disciplines - including domestic violence, youth and road trauma - about the challenges faced in our Pacific communities.

The devastating consequences of violence in our Pacific families and communities and the implications for Pacific health, Pacific welfare and Pacific entry into the criminal justice provision are staggering. 

It is a sad fact that far too many of our Pacific people are over-represented in our prison population.

My challenge to you as Pacific Liaison Officers is to provide some innovative thinking to address this issue.

Youth issues, the latest being Pacific Youth Gangs, and that vexing question 'just how big is the problem', who is involved, are these real Pacific youth gang issues or is it the macho attitude of youth flexing their muscles.

We also need to know specific issues that relate to road trauma - just how many of our Pacific people are being killed on the roads, through alcohol/drugs, speed, fatigue, and failing to wear seat belts. 

Again I challenge you to discuss real solutions to these problems that continue to inflict our people. 

While it is difficult to know the answers with absolute clarity, meaningful discussion and analysis of the issues can realise valuable insight into clever strategic planning or better still, effective solutions as a means to addressing what is happening to our people – and that is the purpose of this fono.

It is critical that Police position themselves to provide government, stakeholders and the community with the best possible support and advice on prevention strategies and enforcement policy.   

Working in absolute partnership with Pacific communities best sits with people who know their people and can ensure that community priorities can be met. 

The fact that you are all here at this conference trying to better understand some of the broader factors in shaping our communities is a testimony to the fact that you are committed to engaging in developing a Crime Prevention Strategy that focuses on building safer communities for the well being of Pacific people.

If we don’t get it right:

·       what will the state of families look like in the future?

·       what will happen to us as proud Pacific people if our cultural heritage becomes fragmented and is significantly diminished?

·       what will happen to our Pacific Youth if they become disenfranchised from their strong Pacific connections?

·       what will happen if our Pacific people continue to kill themselves on our roads, in our homes and on our streets?

For Police, arguably one of the most important and difficult questions you will address in this conference is this: “What expectations will our Pacific communities place on you as Police to plan for a safer future?”

It is my hope that this fono will help drive towards even better ways of delivering the safety and security our communities expect of us.  We must plant the seeds that will grow toward a much safer and secure future.

I am sure you will enjoy the challenge of the week ahead.  Make the most of the opportunities this course offers you to forge new relationships and networks that will benefit the Pacific people you serve.

Finally, I want to thank you to all of you for your dedication to our communities and for your hard work for the Police.

Many of you are following in the footsteps of your forefathers, who risked much to migrate from Pacific countries to New Zealand to seek a better life for their families.  Remember their aspirations as you confront some of the difficult issues that I know you deal with on a daily basis. 

Continue your good work for your Pacific communities - they respect you deeply for it, as do I.

Soifua ma ia Manuia.