Speech
Police Area Commanders' Formal Dinner
Ladies and Gentlemen, I greet you in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and (Sign)
I acknowledge specifically: Police Commissioner, Howard Broad.
Welcome to Government House this evening. It is a pleasure for my wife Susan and myself to host the New Zealand Police Area Commanders' Dinner.
In every New Zealand setting it is appropriate for the speaker to establish a place to stand and in that regard I am delighted to be speaking this evening not only as Governor-General, but as the newly appointed Patron of the New Zealand Police Recruit Wing 247.
The dinner this evening celebrates the beginning of the Area Commanders' Conference, the theme of which is 'One New Zealand Police'.
In the context of policing, being one or being united, is something all New Zealanders expect of their Police force on a daily basis.
Unity breeds strength and promotes collegiality and productivity. It is co-operation, and the sharing of wisdom between all members of the Police, that breeds a good police force - one that the public can trust.
This is most important because the ultimate beneficiary of a united and strong police service is the community in which it operates, and those members of the public it protects.
As a Judge in an earlier occupation, I am deeply aware of the impact positive policing has on a community. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the everyday policing of our towns and cities.
Police officers are charged with a very broad range of duties, and they must be well-trained in a number of disciplines. It is a very demanding job but at the same time a most rewarding one.
Beyond the most visible face of policing - the frontline, there are a myriad of services which the New Zealand Police offer that make a tangible difference to our citizens.
For example, there are the community education programmes for youth, which began as early as 1925 with road safety education. Since 1995, the youth education service has expanded to include D.A.R.E, Stop Bullying and the Kia Kaha school programmes.
These programmes are an important part of our children's education and the D.A.R.E programmes alone were taught to 35,000 students in 2004.
As well as communicating important safety and social messages, this interaction with young people helps foster trust and respect for the New Zealand Police.
To be most effective, it is necessary for there to be well-defined processes and structure. The Police need to constantly review goals, and evaluate how it achieves them, to ensure it remains a modern and efficient force, ensuring a peaceful future for all New Zealanders.
In the spirit of 'One New Zealand Police', what better way to discuss the future of New Zealand policing could there be than to gather Area Commanders from around New Zealand in the one location.
I wish you all a most productive and enlightening conference over the coming days.
I began speaking in all the New Zealand realm languages. May I close by speaking in Maori issuing greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora koutou katoa.