The Voice of Police
VOLUME 40 • NUMBER 4 • MAY 2007
Acknowledgement at last
for Mt Erebus tragedy team
■ EREBUS REVISITED – 27 YEARS ON
■ NEW COLLECTIVE FOR BAND ONE AND TWO MEMBERS
■ WHAT THE BAZLEY REPORT HAD TO SAY
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
NZ Police Association Police News is the magazine of the
New Zealand Police Association and incorporates the New
Zealand Police Journal first published in 1937.
Editor: Steve Plowman
May 2007, Vol. 40, No.4
ISSN 1175-9445
76
A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE
Deadline for next issue Wednesday, May 16, 2007.
Published by the New Zealand Police Association
P.O. Box 12344, Willbank House, 57 Willis Street, Wellington.
Phone: (04) 496 6800, Facsmile: (04) 471 1309
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.policeassn.org.nz
Printed by City Print Communications, Wgtn.
Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the
Association.
COPYRIGHT: NZPA Police News must not be reproduced in
part or as a whole without the formal consent of the copyright
holder - the New Zealand Police Association.
Contents
81
SOME GREAT WORK
From the President
75
New Collective agreed for Band One and Two members
75
What the COI report had to say
76
Association welcomes Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct report
77
Potential recruits turn to eye surgery to enhance chances
78
Luke Shadbolt appointed as Region 4 Director
78
View from the bottom
79
Keen on wine
79
Sick Leave Bank myths and realities
80
Hamilton police staff rally around for their hospital
81
Giving the gift of life – blood and bone marrow donations
Police Minister encourages victims of abuse to report these crimes
83
Change to Travelpac policy processing
83
Erebus revisited – Police staff receive Erebus medals
84
FANTASTIC WORK ACKNOWLEDGED
Front page: Lest we forget: A wooden cross was erected
above Scott Base to commemorate New Zealand’s worst
disaster, the Mt Erebus plane crash, which claimed 257
lives, one more than the 1931 Napier earthquake. The
wooden cross was replaced in 1986 with an aluminium
memorial cross (pictured) after the original one was eroded
by ice and snow. Last month, police officers from around the
country who worked on Operation Overdue, finally had their
tremendous work acknowledged when they were presented
with the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus).
- Photo courtesy of P Brookman, Antarctica NZ Pictorial
Collection.
74
May 2007
82/83
84/87
Police spokesman has close ties with policing
88
Crime and violence drops to second in survey
89
Holiday home availability chart
89
District committees – the backbone of the Association
90
Copper’s crossword
90
When E-bail sends the wrong message
90
Sports News
91/92
Why your Revocable Nomination Form is so important
Letters to the Editor
92
93/94
Association welcomes advent of Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill
The gift of life – blood and
bone marrow donations – p82
95
Ne w Zealand Police Association
Time to get on with the job
The Commission of Inquiry into Police
Conduct report is out. Anyone concerned
about the media commentary should read
the report. You will struggle to reconcile
the emotive and outraged utterings of some
political observers, in particular, with the
content of the report.
What was very easy to miss was the fact
that Police had already adequately dealt
with all but five of the 141 complaints,
which required criminal or disciplinary
action over the last 25 years. Also left out
of the commentary was the fact that no new
criminal or disciplinary charges emanated
from evidence heard by the Commission,
despite Police being primed to react if
evidence emerged to justify the same.
The outline of the circumstances of some
of those cases, in the ensuing newspaper
headlines and political commentary,
conveniently overlooked the fact they had
been dealt with and not ‘discovered’ by the
Commission.
However, much of Dame Margaret’s
criticism was around the lack of systems we
have in place to ensure the very few ‘bad
eggs’ we have had in the past are picked up
early and dealt with appropriately.
She was also critical of our lack of a Code
of Conduct and the fact that we deal with
disciplinary problems differently from the
rest of the public service.
“No amount of bureaucracy or compliance will
ever replace the influence of experienced noncommissioned officers (NCO’s), especially senior
sergeants who can guide their charges, on and
off duty, and spot potential problems before they
become an issue.”
She gave little weight to the fact that Police
are very different in that the Commissioner
is also the prosecutor and that most
complaints against police begin life as a
prima facie criminal complaint.
However, we must not get too defensive.
Police is always news. Sex is always news.
Put them together and no editor is going to
let the topic slip from the headlines until it
has been rung dry.
A small number of isolated incidents have
done enough damage to impact on us all.
Sometimes you’ve just got to grin and bear
it.
Most of the recommendations are for the
best.
However, conspicuously missing from
them is one important factor; increased
supervision, particularly of junior staff. No
amount of bureaucracy or compliance will
ever replace the influence of experienced
non-commissioned officers (NCO’s), especially
New Collective agreed for
Band One and Two members
By Chris Pentecost, Police
Association CEO
year for the general sworn and non-sworn
collectives.
The Association has about 180
members holding the rank of Inspector,
Superintendent and their non-sworn
equivalents. Superintendent and nonsworn equivalent members are employed
on individual agreements while the
Inspector and non-sworn equivalent
members, excluding HR Managers, are
employed under a Collective Agreement.
This is a Multi-Union Collective Agreement
(MUCA) negotiated between Police and
the Association, the Police Managers’ Guild
and the PSA.
The new Agreement also contains some
provisions that reflect the specific terms of
employment of these members.
The previous collective expired on 30
November 2006. Negotiations commenced
last year and members have recently
ratified a new two-year collective to apply
from 1 December 2006 until 30 November
2008.
Recognition of extra hours
Reflection of other agreements
The general adjustments agreed and other
provisions such as the shift incentives,
CIB allowances and standby provisions
essentially reflect those negotiated last
The supervisory incentives applicable
for most sworn supervisors have been
progressively built into the Band One and
Two total remuneration pay scales, with
no recognition at the start rate and fully
integrated at the top step of each band.
Therefore, all members will progressively
receive this recognition as they move up the
Band.
Band One and Two members do not
receive time off in lieu (TOIL) or overtime
recognition, a cause of concern for many
members. The Agreement has a new
“principles based” hours of work clause,
essentially outlining the normal hours of
work members can reasonably expect to
work each week and places obligations on
the member and their manager to make
specific arrangements where the member
works unreasonably in excess of the hours
senior sergeants who can guide their
charges, on and off duty, and spot potential
problems before they become an issue.
The biggest danger is that the inevitable
increased
compliance
regime
will
actually tie up those very supervisors with
more paperwork and result in even less
supervision.
All in all, despite the inevitable media
wallowing in the salacious sexual detail, the
Commission of Inquiry has now provided
us with something of a point of reference to
steer our critics towards. There is plenty to
reassure objective readers of the report that
the public can be proud of and have every
confidence in the Police.
Now we just need to get on with
it.
of work principles. In addition, Band One
and Two members will receive five weeks
annual leave each year including the
Commissioner’s Holidays, representing
a gain of three additional days for sworn
members and two days for non-sworn
members.
The Collective also contains improved
provisions where members are promoted
more than one Band and specific provisions
associated with the cashing up of TOIL
upon being promoted.
New band
In addition, the Agreement provides for the
introduction of a new band 2A, providing
increased remuneration for the largest Area
Commander and District Crime Manager
positions. While not without some
controversy amongst the membership
and requiring some further review, this
is considered an important initiative as
it moves away from the “one size fits all”
management model introduced with the
Martin Review in the late 1990’s.
At least one ratification meeting was held
in all Districts, with 71% of eligible sworn
members and 55% of eligible non-sworn
members attending a meeting and voting.
Overall, 84% of the Association sworn
members and 95% of the non-sworn
members who attended meetings, voted to
accept the Police offer.
Mayl 2007
75
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
What the Report of the Commission of
Inquiry into Police Conduct had to say
By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News
Code of Conduct needed
It took three years to produce and cost nearly
$10,000 per page and when the Commission
of Inquiry into Police Conduct finally reported
back it provided Police with a timely wakeup call, especially around what the report
called its “cumbersome, time-consuming and
outdated” disciplinary procedures.
Dame Margaret was particularly critical of the
fact that Police do not have a Code of Conduct
and recommended one be formulated and
adopted so as to give police officers “clear
guidelines” on what constitutes appropriate
behaviour both on and off duty.
The report found, after reviewing 313
complaints of a sexual assault against 222
police officers, that while there was “evidence
of some disgraceful conduct by police officers”
it mainly took place more than two decades
ago.
The report dealt with four main themes in its
Terms of Reference, which related to the:
• Standards and procedures established by
the Police as a matter of internal Police
policy for the investigation of complaints
alleging sexual assault by members of the
Police or by associates of the Police or by
both;
• Practice of Police in the investigation of
complaints (as above);
• Adequacy of any investigations that had
been carried out by the Police on behalf
of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA)
that concerned complaints as above; and
• Standards and Codes of Conduct in relation
to personal behaviour for members of the
Police.
No organisational cover up
Commissioner Dame Margaret Bazley was
quick to point out, however, that there
was no evidence of “any concerted attempt
across the organisation as a whole” to cover
up unacceptable behaviour. Although she
referred to some instances where individual
officers attempted to protect alleged
perpetrators.
Dame Margaret went on to say: “New Zealand
is fortunate to have a Police Force in which
this kind of misconduct is relatively rare.”
She also said that such behaviour posed a
“risk” to the NZ Police in terms of a loss of
public confidence in the organisation.
The report said that NZ Police needed to give
“high priority” to minimising this risk and
that it needed to make sure its disciplinary
procedures were professional and that
matters were dealt with “expeditiously”.
Dame Margaret was critical of Police
management practices, saying it lacked
the procedures and policies necessary to
effectively deal with misconduct and for
removing the officers concerned. Dame
Margaret recommended there be an “early
warning system” in place that highlighted
those that may be at risk of indulging in
inappropriate behaviour.
76
May 2007
She reserved strong words for the current Police
disciplinary system, calling it “cumbersome,
time-consuming and outdated”. She called
on the Government to revoke the current
disciplinary regulations “immediately” in order
to enable a “more sensible and efficient system
to come into force as soon as possible.”
Dame Margaret said that she was confident
that Police were investigating sexual allegation
complaints appropriately. She had confidence
in the calibre of Police investigations at the
present time and she paid tribute to marked
improvements in investigation procedures in
the last 25 years.
ASAIP improvement
However, there was room for improvement,
particularly around implementation of the
Adult Sexual Assault Investigation Police
(ASAIP) and there was a need to address the
“proliferation of policies and procedures”. The
report also said that the ASAIP needed to be
resourced adequately.
In what seemed to be a clear reference to
proposed changes in the Police Act, Dame
Margaret referred to “systemic flaws” that
needed to be addressed by future legislators
and the Commissioner of Police.
The report makes 60 recommendations, 48
of which relate to Police and 12 to the Police
Complaints Authority. The categories under
which these recommendations fall were as
follows (the number of recommendations are
shown in parenthesis):
• Police policies and procedures (four);
• Police policies and procedures for
complaints (four);
• The Adult Sexual Assault Investigation
Policy (two);
• Communication of policies and training
(three);
• Consistency and transparency in complaint
processes (two);
• Independence of investigations (two);
• Support for sexual assault investigations
(two);
• Management assurance (one);
• Handling of complaints by the Police
Complaints Authority (seven);
• The PCA and legislative requirements
(five);
• Police disciplinary system and procedures
(five);
• Code of Conduct for police officers (one);
• Police Sexual Harassment Policy (one);
• Police policy on inappropriate sexual
conduct and relationships (one);
• Police Email and computer use policies
(four);
• Ethics training and ethics committees
(two);
• Early warning system and performance
management (three);
• Police culture (two);
• Reporting of allegations of sexual
misconduct (five);
• Community engagement and feedback
(one); and
• Implementation and monitoring of Police
initiatives (three).
Main points
Amongst these
recommendations
implemented to:
sub-categories were
that new rules be
• Prohibit sexual relations between serving
police officers and those over whom they
hold authority, or where there is a power
imbalance;
• Recruit more women into the Police
service;
• Ensure that the State Services Commission
carries out an annual ‘audit’ of Police
culture to ascertain the “health of the
organisation”;
• An overhaul of the Police Complaints
Authority (PCA) to allow for more
independence from Police, to make the
PCA more transparent and to change the
way in which it handles sexual complaints;
and
• Invite the Controller and Auditor-General
to monitor the NZ Police’s implementation
of all the projects and initiatives
recommended in the report for the next
10 years.
Minister of Police, Annette King said that she
was “really encouraged” that Police had already
started acting across a range of complex issues,
and Dame Margaret had acknowledged this in
her report.
Implementation
Ms King said that a number of “important
steps” on implementing the recommendations
could be taken very soon and these included
a Code of Conduct, which would be part of
an overhaul of the Police Act. This would see
the revocation of Police Regulations and the
Police disciplinary tribunal system.
The code would implement a best practice
state sector disciplinary system, based on the
Code of Conduct, and in keeping with the
principles of fairness and natural justice as
part of the employment relationship; and the
implementation of an early warning system
to identify officers “at risk” of inappropriate
behaviour.
The full and more detailed list of
recommendations made by Dame Margaret
Bazley’s can be found at: http://www.cipc.
govt.nz/
Ne w Zealand Police Association
Association welcomes Commission of
Inquiry into Police Conduct report
By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News
The Police Association has welcomed the
report of the Commission of Inquiry into
Police Conduct, which was released last
month by Dame Margaret Bazley.
Association President, Greg O’Connor called
the report’s publication “timely” and said
that New Zealanders should feel “reassured”
by its contents, in that it showed that
“while some individuals have indulged in
inappropriate and illegal behaviour in the
past, the NZ Police of today is focused on
ensuring exemplary standards of behaviour
are maintained.”
Mr O’Connor said that there had
“understandably been a level of concern
about their police following recent negative
publicity and court cases.”
He said he felt sure that those who read
the report would gain an understanding of
how thoroughly Dame Margaret Bazley and
her team had examined past and current
police practice. “Reading the report will help
reassure people that errant behaviour by
police officers is vigorously investigated and
strictly dealt with,” Mr O’Connor said.
Concerns about internal processes
“Dame Margaret Bazley’s report, while
expressing concerns about the adequacy of
some internal processes, is generally positive
about how Police deal with complaints of
alleged sexual offending by police officers and
their associates,” Mr O’Connor said. “It will
also reassure New Zealanders that in today’s
culture, sexual offending or misconduct is
not tolerated or ignored.”
The Police Association was already working
with Police to formulate a Code of Concoct,
one of the Commission’s recommendations.
“The unique nature of policing does need to
be carefully considered when implementing
changes, especially the situation where the
Commissioner of Police is in the unique
position of being the employer and the
prosecutor.”
Natural justice
“The Police Association has no interest
in protecting police officers who commit
criminal offences or indulge in inappropriate
behaviour. However, officers deserve the right
to have the veracity of any allegations made
against them tested, before being acted upon.
The principles of natural justice should apply
to police officers too”, Mr O’Connor said.
Recent public submissions contained in the
Police Act review had suggested that the
Commissioner should be able to sack officers
who had been the subject of allegations and the
Association totally rejected this suggestion.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad said
that he has “unreservedly accepted the
findings of Dame Margaret Bazley’s report”.
Mr Broad said that Dame Margaret’s work
“is propelling us to improve our systems,
policies and processes.”
Recommendations
Police Minister Annette King said that of
the 60 recommendations contained in the
Commission’s report, 31 were already in
the process of being implemented and all of
them would be completed within two years.
She said the Auditor-General would audit
the work of Police in this regard to make
sure that Dame Margaret’s recommendations
were completed within that timeframe.
Prime Minister, Helen Clark, mirrored the
views of Ms King, saying that the Government
was keen to see the reports recommendations
implemented. Ms Clark said that while there
were obviously “largely historical” incidents
that had shocked the public, she could not
imagine anything in the report would add to
that. She said it was “comforting” that such
events were extremely rare.
Ms Clark said that she viewed, as she thought
most New Zealanders would, the Police as
an overwhelmingly professional organisation
who were interested in maintaining the
highest standards. While she said she was
personally disgusted by the behaviour of
some police officers, the Police was not
“characterised by such behaviour”.
Ms Clark said that victims could be reassured
by the report and those who complained in
the future should know that their complaints
would be taken seriously.
Mayl 2007
77
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Potential recruits turn to new eye
correction technology to enhance
their chances of joining Police service
One of the main requirements of joining the
Police is excellent eyesight, which has been
an obstacle for many aspiring recruits.
A new vision correction laser technology
called IntraLase Custom LASIK surgery is
proving popular with recruits with inferior
natural vision and is allowing hopefuls to
get one step closer to their dream of entering
the Police service.
LASIK, which stands for Laser-Assisted inSitu Keratomileusis, is a procedure that can
eliminate the need for glasses or contact
lenses. IntraLase is a new technique in
LASIK vision correction surgery introduced
by the Eye Institute in Auckland. The
procedure does not involve blade surgery.
Apart from allaying patient fears, it has also
proven to be more precise, safer and to
allow faster recovery.
Clear vision
Kate Sherson, a Police hopeful, noticed the
results almost immediately after undergoing
the IntraLase procedure. “I went from
someone who couldn’t see road signs or
number plates clearly while driving, to clear
vision the very next day,” Ms Sherson said.
Glenn Dunkerley, who is now undergoing
training at the Royal New Zealand Police
College at Porirua is a qualified optician,
and was impressed by the recovery time
after undergoing the procedure.
“The LASIK procedure took between 30
and 40 minutes. My vision was improved
as soon as I opened my eyes. I’ve never had
complete freedom in vision like this before
and having worn glasses for 18 years, it is
liberating,” Mr Dunkerley said.
No barriers
“Prior to having the laser procedure I would
not have had a chance to join the Police as
I would have not passed the first interview.
Now, my eyesight won’t hold me back any
further,” Mr Dunkerley added.
According to surgeon Dr Trevor Gray from
the Eye Institute, who has been performing
LASIK laser vision correction for more
than a decade, the IntraLase procedure
can correct all common eye problems such
as near-sightedness, far-sightedness and
astigmatism, which, if uncorrected, will
usually disqualify a potential Police recruit.
“From a treatment standpoint, patients
much prefer this modern, safer treatment
procedure,” Dr Gray told Police News.
What is IntraLase?
– Step 1 - requires the creation of a corneal flap, which is lifted to allow Step 2.
– Step 2 - removes corneal tissue by a special laser to reshape the cornea and
change its focusing power.
• Prior to IntraLase, the corneal flap was cut using a hand-held oscillating steel
blade called a microkeratome, which will soon be a thing of the past.
• IntraLase creates the corneal flap. It is a computer-controlled laser that delivers
rapid pulses of light to a pre-programmed depth and position within the cornea.
• As the IntraLase moves across the eye, each pulse forms a microscopic bubble.
• The bubbles connect to form a corneal flap, which can be lifted back to reveal a
smooth corneal bed, an optimal surface for reshaping.
• The creation of the flap takes around 25 seconds per eye.
• The Eye Institute was the first eye clinic in New Zealand to introduce the IntraLase
in May 2006 and has performed the procedure on over 2000 eyes in the interim.
We remember…
WHITAKER Ayla Rose
POLLOCK Julie Anne
May 2007
• Luke Shadbolt
Luke Shadbolt has been appointed Police
Association Regional Director for Region 4.
Mr Shadbolt replaces Chris Cahill (Napier)
who has resigned his directorship to take
up a position in Auckland.
Detective Sergeant Shadbolt, 38, is based
in Hastings. He joined the Police in 1987
and his wife, Rachael, is a Napier-based
senior constable. He has worked in Otara,
Otahuhu, Te Awamutu, Napier and
Hastings.
Mr Shadbolt has been an active Association
member for most of his police career,
serving on local committees and as a Napier
delegate.
CIB supervisor
• The IntraLase laser performs the critical first step of LASIK surgery. LASIK is a
procedure that can eliminate the need for glasses or contacts.
78
Luke Shadbolt appointed
as Region 4 Director
Mr Shadbolt works as a CIB supervisor and
has also been O/C of the Hawke’s Bay Search
and Rescue Squad since 1999. He has been
a part-time member of the National Clan
Lab team for the last three years.
He is also a keen sportsman and his
interests include competing in triathlons,
cross-country, rugby sevens competitions,
surf life saving and mountain running. His
other outdoor pursuits are deerstalking and
duck shooting. He was a member of the
gold medal winning NZ Police team, which
took out the Veteran Men’s Sevens Rugby
competition at the 2005 Police and Fire
Service Games in Adelaide.
Mr Shadbolt said that he looks forward
to working closely with the respective
district committees within Region 4 to best
represent members’ interests at a national
level.
Who passed away…
10-Dec-06
4-Apr-07
Daughter of member
Upper Hutt
Daughter of member
Raumati South
BLUMBERG Terrence Cecil
14-Apr-07
Retired member
Christchurch
WESTERLUND John Walfrich
19-Apr-07
Member
Mangere, Auckland
Ne w Zealand Police Association
This column is written by a frontline
police officer. It does not represent
the views or policies of the Police
Association.
‘debriefs’ have been modified considerably over the years in line with the
community values and expectations...However, its clear we are entering a
new era and change is a coming!
In a country with a binge drinking culture it was always going to be reflected
somewhere in the thin blue line. I even see our ‘Broad Sword’, when under
the media spotlight, admitted to having liked the odd ale. Thanks for being
so honest boss.
‘Tuff’ times
PeopleHard
And it’s getting even messier! Now the system is nicking sick leave off us!
What next and when will it stop? I hear our top HR boy in ‘Wayne’s World’ is
so frustrated with this software that’s not delivering on the promises that he
has disbanded the team who put together this ‘new technology’
Now we may be headed for a bumpy ride over the next few years but doesn’t
ya chest swell with pride with what the guys and girls are doing from Cape
Reinga to the Bluff? My beautiful Garden City is starting to look a bit like
‘Homicide City’ at the moment but the team still keeps solving the crimes and
putting the baddies where they belong.
Another INCIS I hear some cry? Words from a dark past that sent the
cockroaches scuttling from the light.
So keep the chin up team. With results like that maniac in the Hutt Valley
getting the Red Card for at least 26 years there is still hope and that’s worth
fighting for.
Best we put this one to bed quicker rather than later HR, as the word integrity
might end up at your end of the court!
Good times
Times are a changing
Ain’t that the truth. Our leader down here in God’s Own has decreed that
there will be no more J#$ sessions (can’t say that three-letter word) from this
day forth. Apparently, on the back of some ‘not so discreet’ behaviour that
occurred in a very public place and hit the press, though the scrutiny goes
back close to when time began.
And if you Jaffas, Cake-Tinners and others want to bathe in sunshine come
on down to the sunny south. Reverse that drift north and come and belong
to the worst kept secret in NZ. We are Canterbury, We are One, We are the
mighty Red and Blacks! (Editor’s note: Did he mean “We are one-eyed?”
I wonder.)
See Ya!
Now from my ‘country boy’ point of view, we need to change with the times
and they certainly have in this lad’s 25+ year tenure. To be fair, these
Carchelo Mourvedre Syrah 2005 RRP $17
by Ricky Collins
A Taste of Spain
We New Zealanders tend to stick to drinking
mainly New Zealand and Australian wine, but
there are some really interesting alternatives if
we are prepared to experiment a little. Thanks
to the efforts of some well-travelled local wine
importers, we now have a wide range of wines
available from other parts of the world. I recently bought a selection of
under-$20 Spanish wines to see how they compared to Australasian wines
of a similar value.
For centuries Spanish wines were largely made in bulk supply for local
consumption and were of relatively low quality. Things have improved
significantly over the last 30 years or so to the point where Spanish wines
are now highly regarded internationally. The wines I’ve reviewed below are
certainly not from the top echelon of wines available from Spain, but they
represent good value for money and compare very favourably to what we
can buy at a similar price from New Zealand and Australian producers.
Martin Codax Albarino 2005
RRP $20
This dry white was a real surprise for me, as I didn’t expect such fruit
forward characteristics. On the nose I got a definite whiff of almond, and
on the palate there were bright apricot and peach flavours. The viscous
texture, matched with the crisp acidity makes this wine different to New
Zealand whites. I’d describe it as similar to a blend of Riesling and Viognier,
and very appealing. It’s a drink-now style of wine and would compliment
any seafood perfectly.
This Spanish red has been a favourite of mine over the years. The blend
of varieties used to produce the Carchelo has varied vintage by vintage,
but the resulting wines have always been excellent and great value for
money. The 2005 blend has excellent depth of flavour, with cherries and
berryfruits showing through. Like many Spanish wines, there is a touch of
musky, smoky spice in the mix, and the finish is slightly earthy. This is a
very smart wine that belies its price point.
Castano Monastrell 2005
RRP $16
This is a fresh, silky young wine with lifted herbal aromas. There are sweet
berryfruit flavours, supported by fine-grained tannins and vanilla oak
influence. I’ve tried a number of previous vintages of this wine and they
can develop earthy, savoury characteristics that add to the complexity of
the wine. There’s a lot going on in this wine for the price. Look out for the
smart but simple, modern new label.
Dominio de Eguren Codice 2004
RRP $20
This wine is produced from the grape Tempranillo, one of Spain’s most
famous varieties. It has ripe raspberry flavours and a spicy edge on the
palate. It spent six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels
before bottling and that has imparted a firm, tannic structure and a smoky
oak influence on the finish. Everything is in balance, and the result is
a very smart wine. This has already
picked up a gold medal at the 2006
Liquorland Top 100 Wine Show.
You should find these wines at fine
wine outlets such as the Fine Wine
Delivery Company, Glengarry, Vino
Fino or Munslows Fine Wines.
• The Spanish wines (pictured
above) represent value for
money.
May 2007
79
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Sick Leave Bank myths and realities
Myth:
Sworn police have unlimited sick leave.
Reality:
Sworn police officers get 12 days sick leave per year, which can be accrued.
Allowing, in most cases, sick leave of up to 60 days in any five year period. Any
additional sick leave has to be applied for from the Sick Leave Bank (SLB).
Myth:
“I’ll just take stress leave.”
Reality:
There is no such thing as “stress leave” in the NZ Police. A member can either
take annual leave or go on sick leave. Members should realise that being on
“stress leave” is actually using up their annual or sick leave entitlement. Once
sick leave is exhausted a member can either apply to the Sick Leave Bank, use
annual or another type of leave (e.g. shiftworkers’ leave), or possibly go on
leave without pay.
NZ Police established a Sick Leave Bank (SLB) in 1981. The SLB was set up to ensure sworn
their other leave if they require a lengthy
period of time off work. The Sick Leave
Bank Committee realises that members
should have some annual leave in
reserve for their ongoing wellbeing.
Each case is judged on its particular
merits and it may be reasonable for
members to use some other type of
leave first or in combination with leave
from the SLB.
Q: How do I make an application?
A: Members should contact their local
HR Manager or Police Staff Welfare
Officer.
Q: When should I apply?
members who were genuinely sick, or
supporting loved ones who were unwell,
did not run out of sick leave. Each sworn
member “donates” 0.5, or 1 day’s annual
leave to the SLB, which is available to those
members who have run out of their own
personal sick leave.
Over the years, sick leave and the SLB have
not been actively managed and a culture of
thinking they have unlimited sick leave has
built up among many members of Police.
In the sworn pay round negotiations in 2003
the issue of the SLB was resolved. The NZ
Police, in consultation with the NZ Police
Association and the Police Managers’ Guild,
set up a formal process to manage the SLB.
As a result of this consultation, a Sick Leave
Bank Approval Committee was formed. The
committee considers applications against
operating principles and criteria, which
were developed in consultation with the
Association and the Guild. Peter Hayes,
Manager Police Welfare Fund, is the NZ
Police Association/Police Managers’ Guild
representative.
Mr Hayes has set out some of the common
questions he gets asked in relation to the
Sick Leave Bank. Peter can be contacted
on 0800 500 122 or Police extension
44446 if you have a specific query relating
to these issues.
Questions and answers:
Q: Why couldn’t sick leave remain as
it was?
A: A good employer is responsible for
managing sick leave so ill/injured
employees are supported and there
are no abuses of sick leave. Police are
now taking a much more active role
in ensuring members who are on sick
leave are supported and, if necessary,
rehabilitation plans are put in place to
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May 2007
enable a return to their fulltime role as
soon as practicable.
Q: Does this mean when I run out of
sick leave I won’t get paid?
A: If you are suffering from an illness or
supporting a family member with a
genuine illness and running out of sick
leave you should make application
to the SLB to access further leave. In
virtually all cases access to the SLB
will be approved if the applicant meets
specific criteria.
Q: What are those criteria?
A: In order to make a full assessment of a
member’s eligibility to access the SLB the
Sick Leave Bank Approval Committee
needs the following information:
• Diagnosis of medical/psychological
condition;
• Treatment
plan;
and/or
rehabilitation
• Prognosis and likelihood to return
back to a career in Police; and
• Other information: The Sick
Leave Bank Approval Committee
will also ask for the details of the
member’s previous annual and
sick leave history, or other relevant
information about their condition
and/or circumstances.
Q: How do I know how much sick
leave I have?
A: Members can check their leave
balances by contacting their local HR
administration.
Q: If I have annual leave, TOIL or
deferred days off, do I have to use
these first, before accessing the Sick
Leave Bank?
A: This is not always the case. Members
will be expected to use a portion or all of
A: When you are aware that you are likely
to exhaust your sick leave. Don’t wait
until you have exhausted your sick
leave.
Q: Are applications
confidential?
to
the
SLB
A: Yes. All applications and supporting
information will be dealt with
confidentially.
Q: As the primary caregiver, can I use
the SLB to be at home with my sick
dependants?
A: Yes. The Sick Leave Bank Approval
Committee may approve access in such
circumstances, but in addition to the
criteria set out above, they will also
require information to ensure that both
caregivers (if applicable) are making an
equal contribution to supporting the
sick dependant. Police should not be
making a greater contribution than any
other employer involved in a family’s
situation.
Q: How long can I access the SLB for?
A: The SLB Approval Committee approves
up to a maximum of 30 days access at
any one time without re-assessing the
circumstances with updated medical
reports etc. Usually, approvals are for
five to 10 days. Longer periods of 5060 days are very unusual. Members are
able to re-apply for further leave if they
are still unable to return to work.
Q: How often do I have to make a
contribution to the SLB?
A: The last contribution members made
to the SLB was in early 2005 when
members gave up half a day leave as
their individual contribution towards
the SLB. It is likely a similar contribution
will be requested in 2008.
Ne w Zealand Police Association
• Constables Ian Foster and Jo Moratti are buried in a sea of toys donated to Waikato Hospital by Hamilton Police staff.
- Photo courtesy of The Waikato Times.
Hamilton police staff rally around to
supply surplus toys to Waikato Hospital
Hamilton’s Lance Tebbutt found his office
had been inundated by hundreds of toys
recently, so many in fact that he was left to
access his desk by climbing over the top of
it. But Lance didn’t mind one iota, since it
was all in the name of a good cause.
Hamilton Police staff have rallied around
to provide Waikato Hospital’s emergency
department with hundreds of toys, to help
children who come into the accident and
emergency service for treatment.
Blue Light project
Hamilton North community constable,
Jo Moratti, said the donation came about
through the generosity of Police staff, who
were “only too happy to rally around in
support of the Blue Light project team”.
Constable Moratti told The Waikato Times
the response had been “fantastic”. Word
got around Hamilton staff via notices
placed in the lifts. “We asked staff to
donate surplus toys that they may have
at home and the response was amazing,
with hundreds pouring in over a two
week period,” she said.
So taken with the response were the
organisers that a repeat collection is
planned next year.
Question: Name the capital of France? Answer: “F”
More from the wonderful world of game show
answers. Last month we ran some ‘pearler’
answers from game show contestants who
seemed to have disengaged the brain before
answering questions put to them on popular
TV shows. These ones came from the popular
UK game show “Family Fortunes”.
1)
Something a blind man might use? - A
sword
2)
A song with the word Moon in the title? Blue Suede Moon
3)
Name the capital of France? - F
4)
Name a bird with a long Neck? - Naomi
Campbell
5)
Name an occupation where you might need
a torch? - A burglar
14) Something that flies that doesn’t have an
engine? - A bicycle with wings
6)
Where is the Taj Mahal? - Opposite the
Dental Hospital
15) A famous bridge? - The Bridge Over
Troubled Waters
7)
What is Hitler’s first name? - Heil
16) Something a cat does? – Goes to the toilet
8)
A famous Scotsman? - Jock
9)
Some famous brothers? - Bonnie and
Clyde.
17) Something you do in the bathroom? Decorate
10) Something that floats in a bath? - Water
18) Something people might be allergic to? Skiing
11) An item of clothing worn by the Three
Musketeers? - A horse
19) Something you do before you go to bed?
- Sleep
12) Something you wear on a beach? - A
deckchair
20) Something you put on walls? - A roof
13) A famous Royal? - Mail
22) A jacket potato topping? – Jam
21) Something slippery? - A conman
Mayl 2007
81
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Blood/bone marrow donations sought from
Maori and Pacific Island police staff
Last month former rugby star Eric Rush called upon New Zealand
police officers to donate much-needed blood, as part of a program
to raise national blood donor levels.
Maori and Pacific Island police officers, in
particular, are being called upon to raise their
levels of blood donation and are also being
asked to consider their suitability for bone
marrow transplantation procedures, because
their unique tissue types can help save the
lives of matching Maori and Pacific Island
recipients.
Mangere-based Detective Constable Dean
Patutama knows only too well the need
for donors. His daughter, Avary, a plucky
eight-year-old diagnosed with acute myeloid
leukaemia is alive today because of the
unconditional gift of stem cells from an
anonymous donor.
Genetics
What made it difficult to find Avary a donor
was her genetic make up. She is from New
Zealand Maori/Cook Island Maori/Niuean/
North European genetic heritage.
“Every day four New Zealanders, both children
and adults are diagnosed with leukaemia
and other bone marrow malignancies,” said
Raewyn Fisher of the New Zealand Bone
Marrow Donor Registry.
“There were then, and there still are, no adult
donors on unrelated registries throughout the
world that matched Avary.”
“Being a child, Avary could receive a cord
blood stem cell transplant, but had she
developed acute myeloid leukaemia as an
adult, this treatment would not have been
given as the cord blood unit would not have
had enough cells for her and there would have
been no matched adult donor,” Ms Fisher
said.
The gift of life
A Canterbury-based senior sergeant, who
gave life-saving bone marrow to a leukemia
sufferer spoke recently to Police News about
how he came to be involved in the process.
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May 2007
“I’d been a blood donor for a few years and
the blood donor service asked if I would
consider putting my name on the Australasian
bone marrow register and I agreed to that,”
he said.
“I got a call from the Auckland-based NZ Bone
Marrow Donor Registry to say that they had
found a potential match and I told them that I
was prepared to go ahead with the procedure
if subsequent tests confirmed things were
okay,” he added.
The New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry
(NZBMDR) is part of a worldwide network of
registries of people who have volunteered to
donate cells from their bone marrow, if they
are found to match a patient who needs a
bone marrow transplant.
Even given the initial test results, there
was still only a 10% chance of the senior
sergeant’s bone marrow matching a potential
unrelated recipient. Unrelated matches are
very rare, so rare in fact that the Canterbury
officer was told that it was the first such
match in 10 years in Canterbury for a bone
marrow harvest.
Good match
Subsequent tests showed the Canterbury
officer was a good match for the patient, who
was progressively becoming more unwell.
“It all happened in a matter of weeks. A
specialist here in Christchurch checked
things out to make sure everything was okay
and when they were sure it was, they went
ahead with the harvest,” the officer said.
The ‘harvest’ is the procedure whereby bone
marrow is extracted by removing it surgically
from the back of the hips, with more taken
from the sternum if required. The surgery is
done under a general anaesthetic and it takes
about 40 minutes. Once you have given bone
marrow you are not usually allowed to give
blood for 12 months.
Police support
The officer said that Police were really good
in supporting him through the procedure
and giving him the extra day or two to
recover from the operation. He did not know
who the recipient was, as all donations are
anonymous.
“It worked out really well in the end. I would
encourage other police officers to throw their
name in the hat if they are suitable. A lot of
people don’t even know about this other side
to the blood donation service. I know lots of
police officers give blood on a regular basis
and that’s great but it would be great to think
that more would consider becoming involved
in the bone marrow side of things, as it is so
needed,” the officer said.
Throughout the world there are over ten
million donors on a bone marrow donor
database. Eight million are European donors.
Maori and Pacific Islanders have unique tissue
types, and without the New Zealand database
there would be very few donors for this group.
The NZ database has 7,000 Maori and Pacific
Island donors who are willing to donate to
any patient who requires a bone marrow
transplant. Only one person in 1,000 will ever
match a patient in need.
Stem cells are building blocks
Stem cells are the building blocks of the
body’s blood system and through a bone
marrow transplant can treat life-threatening
diseases such as leukaemia.
Leukaemia occurs when the body begins
to accumulate ‘abnormal’ white blood cells
and symptoms include recurring infections,
weakness, tiredness that lingers despite
periods of rest, and bruising or bleeding with
no obvious cause.
Maori and Pacific Islanders wanting to help
Polynesians, like Avary, can find out more
about the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor
Registry by phoning 0800 80 02 56 or by
Emailing [email protected] or if you
want to find out where your nearest blood
donation centre is freephone 0800 GIVE
BLOOD (0800 448 325).
Ne w Zealand Police Association
How your donated blood is used
A single blood donation contributes to the making of up to 12 products all
serving a vital function to help others in need.
Do you know who receives the
red cells you donate?
Specific immunoglobulins: These protect against chicken pox, tetanus and
Hepatitis B in patients at risk from these infections.
Red blood cells: These are required for treatment of anaemia and bleeding
after trauma or surgery.
Cryoprecipitate: These contain blood clotting factors and are used for
traumas, cardiac surgery and liver transplants.
Factor IX concentrate: This is used used for the treatment of an inherited
bleeding condition called Haemophilia B (or Christmas disease).
Intravenous immunoglobulin: This is used to boost the immune system of
patients with immune deficiencies.
Fresh frozen plasma: This is used to treat patients who have clotting
problems often after trauma or liver transplant.
Normal immunoglobulin: Mainly used for the prevention of Heptatitis A in
people who are in at risk areas while travelling overseas.
Factor VIII: Used for management of Haemophilia A. For people with
Haemophilia, a simple injury may require a transfusion of this product,
extracted from blood donations.
Crime stats:
Police Minister encourages victims of
domestic and sexual violence to report
these crimes to Police
Concerns about under-reporting of domestic
violence and sexual offences were the focus of
comments by the Minister of Police, Annette
King, when the latest crime statistics were
released last month.
There had been concerns raised by various
agencies involved with helping the victims of
such crimes, that negative publicity around
historical sexual cases involving former police
officers, may result in such cases not being
reported to Police.
Police Minister, Annette King, said that she
believed police efforts to encourage people to
report family violence was paying off. “We are
now seeing a truer picture emerging of a real
cancer in our society. We can only succeed in
making our communities safer if we know the
true level of crime in society,” she said.
Big rise
“It is interesting to reflect that in 1996-97
there were only 15,242 family violence
incidents reported compared with 37,112 in
2006. That shows that not only are efforts
to encourage New Zealanders to report such
offences actually working, but that New
Zealanders feel safe in approaching the
Police, and that they trust the Police to take
appropriate action,” Ms King added.
Recorded sexual offences rose by 9.7% while
domestic violence offences increased 3.4%.
NZ Police said the increase in the total volume
of recorded crime is related to the technical
implications of a changeover in 2005 to a new
system of recording offences.
Ms King said that she expected there would
be a rise in the statistics once the SNEN
(single non-emergency number) trial was
completed and the programme was eventually
rolled out nationwide.
$900,000 committed
The Government has committed $900,000
through a Ministry of Research, Science and
Technology grant to fund a research project,
led by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in
conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and
NZ Police. It is aimed at encouraging adult
victims to report sexual violence attacks.
Ms King said it was imperative that New
Zealanders reported domestic violence and
sexual offences to the Police. “I believe there
is trust among New Zealanders in the integrity
and effectiveness of NZ Police, and I would
expect that trust to increase even further when
it is seen how NZ Police and the Government
intend implementing recommendations in the
Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct,”
she said.
Change to Travelpac
policy processing
In the past we have allowed children
who are Health Plan members and still
dependant on their parents, to travel free
on the parent’s policy provided that the
parent is also a Health Plan member.
This was something we allowed as the
administrators of the policy and it was
not defined within the policy wording.
Please be aware that effective 1 May
2007, children who are Health Plan
members and are travelling with a parent
who is also in the Health Plan, will now
be charged at the Family premium rate
and not the Individual premium rate.
Have you moved recently?
If you have moved or perhaps are about to,
please let us know so we can update your
records.
You can do this by:
• writing to us at PO Box 12344;
• calling us on free phone
0800 500 122;
• faxing us on (04) 496 6819; or
• Emailing us at;
[email protected]
You need to let us know your membership
number, new address and if you’re a
serving member - your new station.
Mayl 2007
83
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
• The photo that many New Zealanders relate to the Mt Erebus crash, the smudge in the snow that represented the end of 257 lives when Flight
TE 901 hit the northern face of Mt Erebus in Antarctica.
Erebus revisited:
Police staff acknowledged
for their outstanding service
By Steve Plowman, Editor, Police News
Some were reflective, some had that touch of sadness from memories
sightseeing trip to Antarctica.
they thought they might have long since put to the back of their mind.
Tears welled, old acquaintances were renewed but all were proud –
All 257 perished when the aircraft crashed
into the northern face of Mt Erebus at 12.49
pm on 28 November 1979.
and well they might have been – as their names were called to receive
World’s fourth largest air disaster
the New Zealand Special Service Medal (Erebus) at a special ceremony
on 22 March at Parliament’s Grand Hall.
They had waited 27 years to receive this
honour. One, Mark Peck, had come across the
globe from New York, to collect his.
The New Zealand Special Service Medal
was instituted by the Government in 2002 to
“recognise service or work for New Zealand in
very difficult, adverse, extreme or hazardous
circumstances that fall outside the boundaries
of what individuals could normally expect as
part of their routine duties or work.”
It was last awarded in 2005 to recognise New
Zealanders, including many police, who were
involved in rescue, relief and rehabilitation
efforts in areas devastated by the Boxing Day
2004 earthquake and tsunami.
84
May 2007
Individual awards
In terms of the Erebus disaster, there
had not previously been – apart from the
individual MBE’s awarded to Inspector R. S.
Mitchell, leader of the body recovery team
and Inspector Morgan, leader of the Disaster
Victim Identification (DVI) team - any group
recognition of personnel for their work in the
aftermath of the crash.
The recipients of the Erebus medal were the
men and women of the NZ Police, who did the
Police and indeed the nation proud, as part of
the body recovery and identification teams set
up in the aftermath of the fateful flight of Flight
TE901, a McDonnell Douglas DC 10 carrying
237 passengers and 20 crew on a one-day
It was, at the time, the world’s fourth largest
air disaster and still ranks as New Zealand’s
biggest.
It was also one of those defining moments for
people of that generation – akin to where you
were and what you were doing when President
John F Kennedy was assassinated.
Minister of Police, Annette King, then a
school dental nurse, remembers that she was
out walking with a friend in Hamilton at the
time she heard the news. Commissioner of
Police, Howard Broad, was in a hotel at the
time; though he is quick to point out he was
working, not drinking.
Operation Overdue
The operation to recover the bodies, Operation
Overdue, took several weeks. The 60 people
who worked on the ice in freezing conditions
Ne w Zealand Police Association
endured not only the adversities of extreme
weather but also the gruelling task of trying to
identify the dead. In all, 133 police personnel
worked at the recovery site or in other roles
such as in the Auckland-based mortuary. The
work was physically demanding and mentally
harrowing. Unsurprisingly, some carry the
psychological scars to this day.
team was monumental. Many police officers
were ill equipped in terms of training but some
had just finished one of the newly formed
Police Disaster Victim Identification training
courses in Wellington. Most would agree that
nothing could have prepared them for the
scenes of carnage and desolation when they
arrived on the ice.
Inspector Jim Morgan, who led the Auckland
mortuary team, captured the essence of
what the workers had to endure. “It was very
difficult for our young police officers who may
have handled the occasional sudden death
to be confronted with 257 sudden deaths
all at once. The young married people who
were able to go home at the end of their shift
and talk about other things, they didn’t
talk about the horrors of the mortuary
and managed to cope quite well, but
the young single people who returned to
their flats which were largely unoccupied
suffered some quite bad psychological
trauma.”
Among the dead was one of their police
colleagues – Constable Trevor Maskelyn, who
had won the scenic flight to Antarctica in a
raffle conducted by the New Plymouth Search
and Rescue organisation. It was a raffle
anyone of his colleagues could have won and
some even offered to buy the ticket from him
after his win.
Remains flown to Auckland
The frozen bodies and other remains
were flown directly to Auckland, which
had the only mortuary large enough to
accommodate them. To handle the arrival
discreetly, transport from Whenuapai Air
Force Base to Auckland Hospital was by
unmarked refrigerated trucks, rather than
by ambulances or hearses.
Following the disaster, psychologist
Professor A. J. W. Taylor of Victoria University
of Wellington and psychiatrist Professor A. G.
Frazer established that personnel involved in
the gruesome tasks following a disaster, such
as body recovery and identification, suffered
trauma which entitled them to be included
among the victims of the event and deserving
of specialist support and treatment. This
was a world-first in terms of acknowledging
the enormity of the stresses that the work
entailed.
Of the 257 who died, 214 were positively
identified due to the painstaking work of
police staff, Defence Force personnel, forensic
pathologists and dentists, and mortuary
technicians.
Huge task
The task that faced the Operation Overdue
“It was very difficult for our young
police officers who may have handled
the occasional sudden death to be
confronted with 257 sudden deaths
all at once. The young married people
who were able to go home at the end
of their shift and talk about other
things, they didn’t talk about the
horrors of the mortuary and managed
to cope quite well, but the young
single people who returned to their
flats which were largely unoccupied
suffered some quite bad psychological
trauma.”
- Inspector Jim Morgan, leader of the
identification team at the Auckland mortuary.
Constable Maskelyn’s poignant story is indeed
further evidence that life is indeed a candle in
an open doorway and at any time it may be
blown out.
Eight stages
The DVI team’s work was split into eight
stages:
• Construction of a helicopter landing pad;
• Establishment of a base camp on Mount
Erebus;
• Placing flags to mark the crevasses;
• Placing flags to mark where human
remains had been located;
• Carrying out disaster victim identification
procedures and removing the bodies;
• Construction of body loading facilities for
their airlift to the Auckland mortuary;
Ne w Zealand Police Association
• Construction of search grids; and
• Recovery of personal property.
One Auckland team member described the
experience: “The unbroken silence and lack
of insects or smell was a new experience
for most of us. Initially, we utilised our time
going over safety procedures, putting up tents
and preparing our igloo. The cold and wind
made nature's necessities an uncomfortable
experience to say the least. The igloo helped
in this respect. Our situation was a strange
one, on the side of a mountain with no
possibility of getting off except by helicopter. I
had never felt so isolated, clinging tenaciously
to the bottom of the world. When we began
our work, it was at a moderate pace in order
not to sweat too much, for sweat freezes.
To isolate one problem was impossible as
everything on the site was a problem. The
sun, although having little heat, was such
that any exposed skin was soon burnt and
sun goggles were also necessary at all
times. There were many amazing things
on site and each person dealt with his
own strange finds. One example was a
dictionary frozen in the snow. When it was
picked up the first word read "Corpse:
dead body". It was frozen open at that
page in the midst of the same. The whole
scene brought to the fore that sense of
survival inherent in all of us. No one could
afford to make a mistake as death comes
swiftly in such terrain."
Smallest clues for identity
The effort of those involved in identifying
so many victims cannot be overstated.
Sometimes the smallest clues - a set of
car keys in a pocket or a finger off which a
fingerprint could be taken, was sufficient to
give the forensic teams the lead they needed.
Vehicles left at Auckland Airport or luggage
left at hotels all needed attention.
One of the outcomes of the disaster
identification systems used on Erebus was a
recording system, which was a world leader
of its time. It was copied by many countries.
The central feature was that the scene was
marked out in a grid pattern and all body parts
were numbered according to the square in
which they were located. This remained their
identity until a name was established.
May 2007
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PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Commissioner’s tribute
Commissioner Howard Broad paid tribute to
this work in his speech at the medal ceremony
on 22 March. “Vitally important was the
police liaison with families of victims - some
of whom were unaware that their relative had
been on the flight.
Where possible, families were dealt with
by a single officer so rapport was built up,
enabling the hard questions to be asked to
aid identification if this became necessary,”
he said.
For those who could not be identified, a
dedication service and communal burial of
the human remains took place at Auckland’s
Waikumete Cemetery, on 14 February 1980.
Seventeen current serving members were on
hand in Wellington to receive their awards and
other ceremonies followed around the country
to honour others.
• Commissioner of Police, Howard Broad, and Minister of Police, Annette King, presented the
Erebus medals.
- Photo courtesy of R B Thomson, Antarctica NZ Pictorial Collection.
Reason for great pride
Commissioner Broad said that at a time when
Police were coming in for criticism he took
heart from the fact that: “We have always had,
continue to have and will in the future have
very fine people who, by their actions, without
fear of favour, go well above and beyond the
demanding call of duty.”
Minister of Police, Annette King, said she
was “honoured and privileged” to present the
medals to “a group of people whose service in
the wake of Erebus was so outstanding.”
“Your professionalism, commitment and
the co-operation of everyone involved was
remarkable,” Ms King said.
The Mountain
I am here beside my brother, Terror.
I am the place of human error.
• A memorial service to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Mt Erebus air disaster was
held on the northern slopes of Mt Erebus recently. (Left to right): Dean of Christchurch, the
Reverend Peter Beck, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Phil Goff, Antarctica NZ CEO,
Lou Sanson, and Antarctica NZ chairman, Paul Hargreaves.
I am beauty and cloud, and I am sorrow;
I am tears, which you will weep tomorrow.
I am the sky and the exhausting gale.
I am the place of ice. I am the debris trail.
I am as far as you can see.
I am the place of memory.
And I am still a hand, a fingertip, a ring.
I am what there is no forgetting.
I am the one with truly broken heart.
I watched them fall, and freeze, and break apart.
- Bill Manhire.
86
May 2007
• Proud and well they might be – NZ Special Service Medal (Erebus) recipients in Wellington
after having received their awards.
Ne w Zealand Police Association
• Mark Peck, who came all the way from New York to receive his medal, pictured with Canterbury District Commander, Sandra Manderson
(middle) and Minister of Police, Annette King.
- Photo courtesy of The Dominion Post.
Debate still rages about why Flight TE 901 crashed
Controversy about the cause of the accident
has raged in the intervening 27 years.
proximity-warning beacon had sounded.
Mechanical problems were ruled out.
All large aircraft carry two ‘black boxes’: a
digital flight data recorder, which monitors
altitude, speed, direction and engine
function, and a cockpit voice recorder
(CVR). They can help determine the cause
of accidents. The content and significance
of the first transcript of the CVR from the
Erebus DC10 is still hotly debated.
The report said Air New Zealand had been
at fault because its pilot briefings were
inadequate, including a late flight-path
alteration that was not mentioned to the crew.
Access to the original tape has been barred
until 2049.
The words “Go-round power, please...” are
the last known human utterances from that
fateful day in 1979.
Air accident report
Chief Air Accident Inspector Ron
Chippendale’s report was published in
June 1980. It explained that at the time
of the crash, the aircraft was flying at
about 450 metres above sea level in
‘whiteout’ contiions where visibility was
such that the pilots would not have been
able to differentiate between the sky
and the ground. The plane flew into the
icy mountainside soon after the ground
The Civil Aviation Division also came in for
criticism for not monitoring Antarctic flights
more rigorously. However, the main blame
was reserved for the pilots, especially the
captain, who was criticised for descending
to a low altitude when he was unsure of his
position and the surrounding terrain could
not be seen. Some people strongly opposed
this suggestion, saying it was a slur on the
professionalism of the pilots.
“Orchestrated litany of lies”
A Royal Commission of Inquiry, headed by
High Court Judge, Peter Mahon, also looked
into the circumstances surrounding the
disaster. Judge Mahon’s report, released in
1981, reached a different conclusion. It found
that Air New Zealand was primarily to blame
in changing the flight plan without telling
the crew, with the result that the plane flew
towards Mt Erebus instead of down McMurdo
Sound. The report stirred up further
controversy, particularly in its condemnation
of Air New Zealand, with Mahon saying
that the airline and intentionally misled the
inquiry through an “orchestrated litany of
lies”.
The airline subsequently sought a judicial
review of the judgement. A Court of
Appeal judgement in December 1981
decided that Mahon had exceeded his
Terms of Reference in suggesting criminal
conspiracy, and in October 1983 the Privy
Council upheld this decision.
Debate continues
There were clearly several factors that
came together with such devastating
consequences on the 28th of November
1979 but whether it was pilot error or the
fault of the airline is still a matter of intense
debate.
The Police played a final role when Police
Commissioner Bob Walton, after consulting
with the Solicitor-General advised the
Government against criminal prosecution
of any of the other parties named in Justice
Mahon’s report.
May 2007
87
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
Police spokesman has
close ties with policing
There are some interesting coincidental
linkages between the current Police
administration, the Police Minister and
National Party’s Police spokesman, Chester
Borrows, a former police officer.
Mr Borrows and current Deputy Police
Commission, Rob Pope, were members of
the Joe Saunders 19th Cadet Wing at the
Trentham Police College, in January 1975.
Small world that it is, Chester recently
discovered that he is also a distant cousin of
current Police Minister, Annette King.
Mr Borrows was appointed National’s Police
spokesman when John Key took over as
National Party leader from Don Brash. He
won the Whanganui electorate in the 2005
election. He was a police officer for 24 years
and then worked as a lawyer before his
election to Parliament.
Postings
On graduation he was posted to Auckland,
then Wellington and Nelson before shifting
to Lower Hutt to train as a detective. He left
the Police for a short time to work as a farm
labourer in Wellsford, north of Auckland,
before rejoining and working in Pätea,
Hawera and Stratford, firstly as a constable
and later as a detective and detective
sergeant.
88
May 2007
He was awarded a Queen’s Commendation for
Brave Conduct in 1979 after an armed incident
at Miramar. He says his most satisfying roles
in the Police were as a sole-charge policeman
in the South Taranaki town of Pätea and later
as detective sergeant at Stratford.
“Investigating serious crime in the country
stations is a team game, but the team is always
small,” he says. “It involves long hours, but
good working relationships are formed and
endure, and the satisfaction of success is all
the sweeter.”
• Chester Borrows, pictured in uniform
during his days as a police officer.
Transferable skills
The sometimes aggressive nature of
policing, community responsibility and the
accountability of modern policing are three
attributes he says that have served him well
in political life. He says that skills learned
in court are also proving valuable in the
political sphere.
“The Police have always done the business
and shot straight from the lip - the public
find this pretty refreshing in politicians.”
“I guess after 24 years in the Police, against
two and a half years as a lawyer, means I’m
more of an ex-cop than an ex-lawyer, so I
am hoping strong bonds formed over many
years in the Police will be helpful in this
new role.”
• Chester Borrows, as he is today, as a
National Member of Parliament with
responsibility as Police spokesman.
Ne w Zealand Police Association
‘Crime and violence’ drops to second
as NZ’s most important problem
New Zealanders concern about crime and violence is still a concern but has dropped sharply since a 17.3% rating high in February to rate
second at 10.4% in the March UMR nationwide omnibus survey of 750 New Zealanders 18 years of age and over. The ‘economy’ is now the
top concern.
‘Healthcare’ is another rating to have dropped (8.8%), going down to third spot, dropping from its previous rating of 9.3% in February’s
survey. Interestingly enough, ‘politics/government leadership’ has appeared on the survey’s radar in fourth spot at 6.4%, perhaps a reflection
of the debate over the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act (euphemistically labelled the anti-smacking legislation).
The margin of error for a 50% figure at the ‘95% confidence level’ is +3.6%.
MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM - TOP 5
What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?
40
%
35
30
25
20
15
ECONOMY: 11.8%
CRIME AND
VIOLENCE: 10.4%
10
HEALTHCARE:
8.8%
POLITICS/GOVT
LEADERSHIP:
6.4%
5
ETHICAL, MORAL,
FAMILY DECLINE
ISSUES: 6.1%
May
Mar-07
Jan-07
Feb-07
Dec-06
Oct-06
Nov-06
Sep-06
Jul-06
Aug-06
Jun-06
Apr-06
May-06
Mar-06
Jan-06
Feb-06
Dec-05
Oct-05
June
Nov-05
Jul-05
Aug-05
Jun-05
Apr-05
May-05
Mar-05
Jan-05
Feb-05
Dec-04
Oct-04
Nov-04
Sep-04
Jul-04
Aug-04
Jun-04
Apr-04
May-04
Mar-04
Jan-04
Feb-04
0
July
PAIHIA............................................ 15-17,22,27,31 .............................................4-7,10-14,17-20,25-29...........................................6,8,9,15-19,22-26,29-31
STANMORE BAY ............................. 7-10,13-18,20-25,27-31 ...............................1,4-9,12-30.............................................................1-31
AUCKLAND .................................... 14-17,22,23,..................................................5-7,14,19,24-27,.....................................................17,18,24,25,29-31
WHANGAMATA ............................... 6-10,13-17,20-24,27-31 ...............................4-26,28-30..............................................................1,8,13-31
MT MAUNGANUI ............................ 6-18,20-25,27-31 .........................................5-8,13,14,17,19-21,24-29 ......................................8,14-26,29-31
OHOPE........................................... 7-10,13-18,21-31 .........................................4-7,11-15,17-20,24-30...........................................1-31
ROTORUA ...................................... 7-11,13-17,20-23,28-31 ...............................3-14,17-20,24-28 ...................................................8-10,14-20,22-26,29-31
TAUPO ........................................... 6-10,13-17,20-24,30 ....................................4,10-14,17-21,24-26,28 .........................................15-20,22-26,29-31
TURANGI ........................................ 6 ....................................................................1,3-7,9-21,25-28 ....................................................17-19,22-26,29-31
NAPIER .......................................... 6,7,9-12,14-17,22,26-28,30,31 ....................5-7,10-14,18-20,24-26...........................................11,12,14,17-19,22-26,29,30
PARAPARAUMU .............................. 7-9,13,16-18,20,28,29,31 .............................4-8,10-14,17-28 .....................................................2-5,8,9,15-31
GREYTOWN.................................... 6-10,13-17,20-24,27-31 ...............................5-7,10-14,17-21,23-28...........................................2-5,9-12,15-26
WELLINGTON ................................. 8,9,13,14,21,29-31 .......................................4,7,14,21,24,25,29..................................................22-25,31
NELSON......................................... 15-17,19-23,27-31 .......................................4,5,11-18,20-28......................................................1,14,17-31
HANMER SPRINGS ......................... 13,20,24,30 ...................................................................................................................................2,26
CHRISTCHURCH ............................. 6,17,20,23,27-30 ..........................................6,9,11-14,24-27,.....................................................8,10,12,15-19,25-31
TEKAPO ......................................... 15-17,22-24,27,30,31 ...................................4-7,18,19,24,28 ......................................................22,
WANAKA ........................................ 7,9,14-17,20,21,23,24,27-31 ........................4-6,11-21,27-29 .....................................................
CROMWELL ................................... 15,16,21-23,28-31 ........................................4-29 ........................................................................16,29-31
QUEENSTOWN ............................... 15,18-24,31 ..................................................4,14,15,20,25..........................................................
TE ANAU ........................................ 8-10,12-14,17,20-31 ....................................4-9,11-30................................................................1-3,11-19,22-31
DUNEDIN ....................................... 9,10,18,19,21-23,28-31 ................................4-14,17-23,26-29 ...................................................15-31
May 2007
89
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
District committees – the
Association’s backbone
By Amanda Craig, Industrial Officer
The district committees are the backbone of
the NZ Police Association.
They are made up of sworn and nonsworn members from each district. As they
are at the ‘coalface’ of policing, they can
provide help and support to members and
give valuable feedback to the Association’s
National Office.
From the Association’s viewpoint, training
for committee members is an imperative and
an extremely worthwhile investment.
In October 2006 and again in March this year,
the Association held a two-day training course
for the Association’s committee members.
Megan Wilson (another industrial officer)
and I went on a nationwide tour delivering
the training to 130 representatives.
Training offered nationwide
E-Bail for offenders
who skipped
bail sends the
“wrong message”
The input of Senior Sergeant Mark Davidson
and Sergeant Steve Ryder of Wellington Dog
Section, who starred in our home grown
video production of “How to – or how not
to – help a member facing performance
issues”, was greatly appreciated. They gave
Oscar-winning performances (but there is
no truth to the rumour that they are now in
Peter Jackson’s latest film or likely to appear
in Shortland Street).
Two offenders who have failed to answer
bail have been given electronic bail under
the government’s new electronic bail
program.
Greg O’Connor, President of the Police
Association, said that made a mockery of the
bail system. “The message that this sends to
offenders is that if you fail to turn up for bail
then you get to stay at home,” he said.
Thanks to all the representatives who took
time away from their work and personal
life to focus on their Association work.
We were all impressed by the calibre of
the representatives who attended and feel
confident in their ability to fulfil their roles.
Eight offenders were granted E-bail in
a phased pilot programme held in the
Northern Region between late September
and Christmas last year. Offences for
those granted E-bail involved a range
of crimes, including manufacturing
methamphetamine, possession of class
A and B drugs for supply, driving while
disqualified, burglary, receiving, unlawfully
taking a motor vehicle, reckless driving and
failing to stop.
Course content
The course covered:
• The Association’s structure and how it
works;
Training was undertaken in Auckland
twice (with representatives from Whangarei
attending the second course), Tauranga,
Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch
and Dunedin. Committee members from
these districts and surrounding locations
came together to learn more about being an
effective Association representative.
• The committee member’s role;
The local Field Officer and Regional Directors
ably assisted with the training courses
by sharing their wisdom and experience.
Industrial Advocate, Greg Fleming, was
able to attend the first day of the course in
Wanganui, where he shared information and
answered reps questions on a wide variety of
issues.
Using your Association representatives
• Handling
problems;
common
questions
and
Bay of Plenty
Police chaplain
appointment
• The disciplinary and employment system
and how to deal with problems; and
• Dealing with health and safety issues.
One of the main aims of training
representatives is to equip them to help
members with their individual or work
section issues. We encourage you to
use your local representatives to answer
anything from your minor query to: “I think
I’m in the @#**! What do I do?”
1
The Reverend Tom Poata has been
appointed as Police chaplain for the
Bay of Plenty District.
Tom took up his position on
5 March.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Clues:
May 2007
Across
1. Leap broken for a guilty or no-guilty indication (4)
3. Attractive to one who questions verdict (8)
9. Switch noting via the old Wanganui system (7)
10. Stand still (5)
11. What a drug may be (12)
13. Net par combined may catch one (6)
15. Mayhem (6)
17. Never-ending of the same thing (12)
20. Light run by many a motorist (5)
21. Type of sizing for weapon (7)
22. Take too much of (8)
23. Pleads (4)
April answers:
Across
3. Nightclub
8. Alps
9. Obscured
10. Airgun
13. Clips
14. Decamps
90
May 2007
15. S.A.S
16. Dieting
17. Agile
21. Abrupt
22. Attempts
22. Stun
24. Embarrass
Down:
1. Newsletter (8)
2. Stand of some kind (5)
4. Type of justice (6)
5. Without doubt (12)
6. Classes (7)
7. An attractive dog bowl? (4)
8. Made some drug (12)
12. Kangaroos at the door (8)
14. Wrong doing (7)
16. Upsets; hits over (6)
18. To dye something (5)
19. What some defendants pretend to
have in front of a Judge (4)
Down:
1. Pamphlet
2. Easel
4. Poetic
5. Emphatically
6. Lessons
7. Dish
8. Manufactured
12. Bouncers
14. Trouble
16. Knocks
18. Imbue
19. Halo
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
21
23
POLICE COUNCIL OF SPORT
To contact the Police Council of Sport, call Alison Murray at the RNZPC. Ph: (04) 238-3139
Nominations being called
for annual sporting awards
Cricketer Shane Bond did it; netballer Jenny-May Coffin and rugby player John
Gallagher also did it. All of them, plus many others, have won the Council of
Sports’ top award.
Cowboy Action Shooter, Tracey Ball, from Nelson, was last year’s winner
of the Police Association Sportsperson of the Year. It was the first time a
shooter has won the award, even though previous winners have come from
17 different sports.
Nominations are now being called for this year’s Sportsperson of the Year
award. The nominee should have displayed outstanding abilities during the
period from 1 December 2005 to 30 November 2006. This could be as a
representative of a New Zealand team, someone who has been consistently
placed at a regional level or anything in between.
The Council of Sport awards two other trophies for Sports Official of the Year
and Administrator of the Year. Police members make up a huge proportion of
officials and management across a wide variety of sporting activities, and now
is the time to acknowledge them.
In some previous years there have been an abundance of outstanding
candidates and deciding the award winner has been extremely difficult, so if
you have been unsuccessful in the past please give it another try.
If you are unsure about nominating yourself or another please feel free to
contact Alison Murray at the [email protected] or call on
extension 43139. Nomination forms are available from Alison at the Council
of Sport.
• Wellington’s Glen Turner had a good day out when finishing sixth
in the National Triathlon Series (M45-49 section) of the Cup held
in Wellington recently, as part of a national Police team competing
in the event. Police results from the race will be published in the
next issue.
“The right to search for the truth also implies a duty:
One must not conceal any part of what one recognises
to be the truth.”
- Albert Einstein.
National pistol shooting champs
in Auckland on 23 June
The Police National Pistol Champs will be held in Auckland on Saturday,
23 June.
Having recently returned from the World Police and Fire Games, organiser
Cyrus Robinson, said that: “Internationally, pistol shooting is a huge
sport. At the Games we were competing against hundreds of shooters
from all over the world. I am already looking forward to attending the
2009 Games in Vancouver.”
The national champs are open to sworn and non-sworn members, current
and past members of Police and their partners. Experienced and novice
pistol shooters are welcome.
Contact Cyrus Robinson via Lotus Notes if you are interested in
competing or taking up pistol shooting as a sport.
“Then, without realising it, you try to improve yourself
at the start of each new day; of course, you achieve
quite a lot in the course of time. Anyone can do this;
it costs nothing and is certainly very helpful. Whoever
doesn’t know it must learn and find by experience that
a quiet conscience makes one strong.”
- Anne Frank.
“But the fact that some geniuses were laughed
at does not imply that all who are laughed at are
geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at
Fulton, and they laughed at the Wright brothers. But
they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.”
- Carl Sagan.
Visit www.policeassn.org.nz for updated contact details for the Police Council of Sport management committee,
District Sports Officers and the latest schedule of events.
May 2007
91
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
NZ Police Council of Sport & Police Association
Cross-country champs
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
14:30 hrs
Francis Douglas Memorial College,
Tukapa Street, New Plymouth
Individual entry form
Name: __________________________ QID : __________ Council of Sport member Y/N
Category:
Address:
__________________________________________________________
Phone:
________________ E-mail : ______________________________
Entry Fee:
$ 10.00 (enclosed)
(Police members – home station only required)
Entries close on 24 May.
Non Council of Sport member $20.00
Cheques should be made payable to “Police Cross Country”
Timetable:
c/- Jeff McGrath, P.O. Box 344, New Plymouth
13:30-14:00 hrs - Registration at venue.
Race committee:
14:15 hrs - Briefing at venue.
Relay entry form
14:30 hrs - Race start.
Name/s:: 1. __________________________ QID : _______ Council of Sport member
Course description: The course is on the FDMC school farm, and features
undulations and flats, a traditional cross-country course! Each lap will be
3km, and the number of laps to complete is determined by your category.
Race categories
Y/N
2. __________________________ QID : ______ Council of Sport member Y / N
17:00 hrs - After-race refreshments will be held at the New Plymouth Police
Station canteen, Powderham Street.
18:00 hrs - Prizegiving (including spot prizes and finger food).
Jeff McGrath, Matt Stone, Tony Brownrigg
3. __________________________ QID : ______ Council of Sport member Y / N
Category:
F
Address:
__________________________________________________________
Phone:
_____ ___________ Email: ______________________________
(Police members – home station only required)
Relay event: Each member will run one lap (3 km) and will start with the main group of runners.
Team members must wear the wristband supplied. The Team Captain’s name is to be displayed
on the top line.
A
Open Male
(18 – 40 yrs) 9 km
B
Vet Male
(40 yrs +) 9 km
C
Open Female
(18 – 35 yrs) 6 km
c/- Jeff McGrath, P.O. Box 344, New Plymouth
D
Vet Female
(35 yrs +) 6 km
Team competition entry form
E
Draught Horse
(95 Kg +) 6 km
F
3 person Relay
(3 x 3 km) 9 km
Entry Fee: $20.00 (total) (enclosed). Non-Council of Sport member $40.00.
Cheques should be made payable to “Police Cross Country”
Team name: _________________________________________________________
Name/s: 1. __________________________ QID : _______ Council of Sport member Y / N
2. __________________________ QID : ______ Council of Sport member Y / N
There will probably be an M50 grade if sufficient entries dictate, but this will
be at the discretion of the organisers on the day.
3. __________________________ QID : _______ Council of Sport member Y / N
4. __________________________ QID : _______ Council of Sport member Y / N
Selectors will use the champs to select a Police team to go to the North Island
cross-country championships at Taupo on Saturday the 30 June.
Address:
__________________________________________________________
Race rules:
Phone:
________________ Email: ______________________________
1. Shoe spikes can be worn.
2. Obey all directions of the course marshals.
3. Run within one metre (either side) of course markers. If there are two
course/ground markers side-by-side, competitors are to run between
them.
4. Individual members may not enter as part of the relay
5. All disputes are to be directed to the race committee.
Note:
This form must be submitted with individual (single runner) entry forms.
(Police members – home station only required)
Team competition description
A team is made up of four individually entered runners representing a station, section or group.
Relay runners are not eligible to compete in the team’s event.
Teams can be formed from any combination of categories or age. The team with the least aggregate
placing points will win the National Team Trophy. The Team Captain’s name is to be displayed on
the top line.
Why your Revocable Nomination Form should be up to date
Texting teenager kills milkman
Why should you complete a Revocable
Nomination Form?
The perils of texting while driving were no more in
evidence than in Dorset, England recently when a
teenager, who was distracted while using his mobile
phone, killed a milkman in a hit-and-run accident.
A passerby found milkman Christopher Losper
lying near his milk float in West Moors shortly after
teenager Tony Revell, 18, had struck him with his
car after receiving a text message on his phone and
then replying. The accident occurred on Losper’s
60th birthday.
The Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Revell’s
vehicle had been travelling in tandem with another
vehicle, containing some of his friends, at the time
of the accident, according to a report carried by the
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The teenager was sentenced to four years in a
juvenile facility.
Melbourne police are also investigating the possibility
that the recent Burnley tunnel accident may have
been caused by a truck driver talking on his mobile
phone. Three people died in the accident, including
Australian Commonwealth Games gold medal cyclist
Damian McDonald.
On the event of your death, whom would you like
your life insurance paid to?
This is the question that haunts Police Welfare Fund
Insurances for all those members who have not
provided us with a Revocable Nomination Form.
If you or your partner/spouse have any of the
following:
Sworn Group Life
Non-Sworn Group Life
Supplementary Life
Then you need to make sure that Police Welfare
Insurances holds a current Revocable Nomination Form
for each policy.
What is a Revocable Nomination Form?
A Revocable Nomination Form allows you to decide
who will be the beneficiary of your life insurance
payout in the event of your death. If you have a New
Zealand Police Sworn Group Life policy, it also asks
you to provide the details of your spouse/partner
whose life will also be insured under the Spouse
Death Benefit.
92
May 2007
This form is held independently from your will
and estate. The policy owner (Police Welfare Fund
Insurances Limited) will pay any benefit to whomever
you specify on the form, instead of your estate.
If we do not hold a form, any benefit under the Policy
will be paid to your estate. In the absence of a will at the
time of death (if you die intestate), it can take some time
to finalise estate issues. Police Welfare Fund Insurances
Limited will not be able to assist with any initial death
benefit payments to your surviving spouse/partner.
Not sure if you have completed a form?
Easy. Call our our Member Service Centre on 0800
500 122 and speak with one of our representatives
who can check if we hold a completed form for
you. Alternatively you can go to the Members Only
section of our website on www.policeassn.org.nz
with your membership number and password and
you will be able to view whether we hold a form for
you.
If you haven’t already filled one in and lodged it with us,
we are able to Email the forms to you upon request.
Ne w Zealand Police Association
Write it here! Letters to the Editor are welcome.
Signed letters are preferred, but in all cases the writer’s name and address must be supplied. Names will be published unless there is a good
reason for anonymity. The editor reserves the right to edit, abridge or decline letters without explanation. Email to: [email protected] or
write it to the Editor at PO Box 12344, Wellington. Letters under 400 words are preferred.
Politics and a modern
day Salem witch hunt
Is it a myth that the New Zealand Police are an
independent organisation free from political
influences?
I suggest that recent news media statements
made by the Prime Minister indicate this is
not the case anymore. For example during the
last 26 years the Police have employed many
thousands of men and women in their ranks
for various periods of duty – to indicate to the
public that about 300 complaints of sexual
complaints against 200 members over that
time is part of a “Police culture” is a complete
fabrication.
It has been acknowledged that there is no
evidence of any “cover ups” and that is
a compliment to the Police investigators
concerned.
To put political pressure to lay sexual charges
against serving and non-serving members or
to have the members found “not guilty” by a
jury speaks for itself.
It is with some concern that the same political
overtures are made, which would allow juries
to be told of “previous convictions” and for it
to be inferred by our political leaders that they
effectively made the wrong decision strikes me
as nothing less than a modern version of the
Salem witch hunt of the 1700’s.
To brand the culture of the Police because of
the disgraceful actions of a few officers is just
an example of a mass media over reaction.
As JB Priestly once said: “Who is to judge the
media or the press when they themselves control
such freedom of news and believe themselves to be
answerable to no-one!”
Murray Dearlove
(Auckland)
“Keep doing the
excellent job you do”
As an ex-member of the New Zealand Police I
would like to make a few comments regarding
Dame Margaret Bazley’s Commission of Inquiry
into Police Conduct report. I was sacked in
1970 for committing the terrible offence of
‘getting married without permission.’ The
Commissioner did this unceremoniously.
I appealed, as was my right, and was
promptly told by the Appeals Board that the
Commissioner was right. Goodbye. The point
about this, and I don’t know how much has
changed, is that to be judged by your own is
not very pleasant, to say the least. Fair hearings
all round? I don’t think so.
Anyway, time has passed and I don’t hold any
grudges. I am a very staunch supporter of
the Police to this day and will always be so.
How the public will ever be convinced that
the Police do ‘self-police’ themselves, and do
it extremely vigorously, I will never know.
The Police will always be on the back foot
with any complaint - as the media will ensure
this happens. There are some bad eggs in the
job; that is inevitable. It is getting rid of them
a.s.a.p, which is the problem. Surely, the
Queen’s Regulations can do this job without
some fancy new piece of legislation? As I
recall, these are pretty powerful tools for the
Commissioner to have.
The other thing that really annoys me is the
constant referral to the ‘Police Force.’ As I
recall the name was changed around 1965/70
to the New Zealand Police. The thinking
behind this was to remove the idea that the
Police were a ‘Force’ in the sense of the Armed
services, etc.
You will continue to get my support and, I
know, the majority of ‘thinking people’ would
feel the same way.
Keep smiling and continue to do the excellent
job the majority of you do.
Peter McAlley
(Napier)
Appreciation for Police service
Occasionally, I pick up the Police News in my
local library and I always find something of
interest in it. My interest comes from family
connections to policing overseas. I thought I
would write to tell you how proud I am of the
men and women of the NZ Police. In the face
of recent criticisms, there will undoubtedly
be those in society who judge everyone by
the actions of a miscreant few. That is human
nature.
But rest assured that most right-thinking New
Zealanders do not tar the whole of the NZ
Police with the same brush because of a few
bad apples. I thought the poem you published
last month “I am the Man” by Bob Venus,
captured the present situation so well. How
many people in the street would trade places
with the average police officer? Very few, I
would hazard a guess.
bootstraps and fix the problems that have been
identified by the Bazley report.
But let us remember that the underlying
strength of the NZ Police has been and
continues to be its men and women who go
the extra mile for everyday Joe Bloggs like me.
Please let them know through your publication
that they are appreciated by millions of New
Zealanders who they serve well and keep safe
every day.
Perhaps those who are so quick to throw
stones from the safety of their glasshouses
should reflect on the society we might inherit
without the Police behind it. The answer is
total anarchy. Keep your heads held high and
keep up the good work. You are still tops in
my book.
A MacDonald
(Auckland)
A time for leadership
I’ve been retired from the Police a long time,
having proudly served for 16 years during the
70’s and 80’s. It’s understandable that many
serving officers, not only from the earlier era,
but also the younger ones must be feeling
absolutely gutted at the damage done to the
reputation of their service by just a handful of
people.
I remember the era fondly: of men and
woman working tirelessly in an effort to
make a difference; essentially doing the hard
yards protecting the community, locking up
the bad guys and doing everything else that
was too hard or too dirty for other agencies.
Fast forward 20 years, I’m sure that the
overwhelming majority of serving members
are there for the same reasons and are equally
committed but face a quantum leap in the
issues. Like the majority of the public at large,
I don’t envy your work, but I have the greatest
respect for you all (except the bloke that
pinged me on the Desert Road last year).
It’s time now for the Commissioner to front
up personally, show some leadership, move
the department forward and give you back the
pride you thoroughly deserve.
Roger Fleming
(Auckland)
I know there will be those within Police that
feel aggrieved by all this media attention but
it’s the old story, if you have nothing to hide
you should have nothing to fear.
Banning gang patches
So don’t make the mistake of blaming the
messenger, the media in this instance, for
your troubles - just pull yourselves up by the
I admire Wanganui mayor Michael Laws’
attempts to rid his town of this problem. I
note the Police Association has lent its support
I just wanted to add a different perspective
to the proposed legislation to outlaw gang
patches.
Mayl 2007
93
PoliceNews
The Voice of Police
to the proposal. Irrespective of any so-called
‘breach of civil rights’ issues, I personally have
a differing view and want to raise a few issues
to throw into the mix.
Wouldn’t it also be better for law-abiding
members of the public to know who gang
members are so they can ‘avoid’ them if they
need to?
As you will no doubt be aware, policing
of modern gangs, either ethnic or Outlaw
Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs), is becoming more
difficult as they become more sophisticated.
This is certainly the case in the bigger centres,
although the smaller areas such as Wanganui
and Whakatane are just a little slow to catch
up but it’s only a matter of time.
Outlawing the wearing of gang patches in
public places sounds like a ‘nice, warm, fuzzy,
vote catching idea. Thought up by someone
who wants to give the impression he’s a tough,
no-nonsense law maker but I have serious
doubts that it will make an ounce of difference,
and in fact will only work against what the
police, in general are trying to achieve.
It is becoming more difficult to identify who is
a member of a gang, thus creating difficulties
for Police to ‘police’ them. There was a time
when local cops knew all the gang members
in their town but that is no longer the case.
Over the last five to six years, the emphasis
has shifted away from policing of gangs, with
most centres not having any specialist gang
Intel officers at all, and the gang life becoming
more attractive to criminals.
Lets look at other ways of making life harder
for gang ‘criminals’, not easier. I don’t think
we should be supporting any such legislation.
There is certainly a trend where gang members
don’t want to be recognised, especially by the
authorities. This way they can continue to
‘take care of business’. Gang operations, such
as their hold on the drug distribution business,
are covert in nature.
Very seldom do we now see members of
certain gangs out and about on the streets
wearing their ‘colours’.
The Hells Angels administration (for want of a
better word) are none too impressed with the
profile certain members of their club received
over the Wanganui incident/s. The last thing
they want is negative publicity! Their aim is
to gain public acceptance for their behaviour
and existence.
But now we have a knee jerk reaction to a
couple of gang brawls in Wanganui and Mr
Laws and Chester Borrows (a National MP
and former police officer), supported by the
Police Association, want to outlaw the wearing
if gang patches.
Do you think this will really solve the
problem?
All this will do is make it harder for police to
identify and subsequently police the gangs.
There are many ways to identify gang
members, not just by a patch on their jacket.
What about the red/blue bandanas? What
about the red/blue t-shirts? What about the
leather vests with their ‘badges of honour’ on
them? What about the tattoos on their faces/
arms etc? Will any legislation extend to those?
I think not, otherwise we will have the power
to prosecute half the population of some of
our smaller towns!
Why are we even considering making it harder
for gang members to be recognised. It won’t
affect their behaviour one bit.
I say that we should encourage these criminals
to wear all the gang insignia they can. It will
make our job of policing them easier.
94
May 2007
Darryl Brazier
(Tauranga)
Thanks for your letter Darryl. This is an
interesting debate within Police circles
as well as within the public sphere. The
Association has supported the proposed
legislation. The reality is, as you rightly
point out, that many gangs are not wearing
patches in public anyway. Police bosses have
been slow to acknowledge the gang problem.
The Association has been flabbergasted to
discover that there is the odd Police boss
that won’t even admit there are gangs in
their patch. The law that is being proposed
is a foil to the other point you raise – that of
the public’s right to walk their streets free of
intimidation. Members of the public say that
they should not have to ‘avoid’, as you put it,
gang members on the street, whether they
are patched or not. – Editor.
SRBA delays
I picked up the November 2006 IPA magazine
and read an article stating that staff would
be issued with stab resistant body armour
approximately 10 weeks after measurement
after the vests had got the thumbs up from the
staff who had tested them.
Well it has now been 13 months and I still
haven’t had one issued to me. I had been
measured up for one early last year but when
it came time to have the fitting in March 2007
I had grown two sizes and the armour was too
small. I doubt I had grown at all and it appears
a mismeasurement had occurred. It seems I
was not the only one that had grown. Most
staff in this district could not get their body
armour, as our first measurement was way
out. I was then told that I would be getting
the appropriate size within two weeks and that
was in mid-March.
Well, I am still waiting. On asking other staff
if they had any knowledge about their SRBA
they too said they had not been told about a
possible arrival date.
Not that I am too sad about this. I hear they
are hot, clammy to wear and in the bay’s heat
I am not exactly looking forward to that. I
would also like to know how they work in wet
weather when I am required to put a raincoat
over the top of the vest. I have now heard that
the powers that be are thinking they should
have put gel packs inside so we could place
these in the fridge and then place the packs on
the inside of the SRBA to assist with cooling.
Apparently, this happens in Australia.
Why did the NZ Police not consider this at the
beginning? Maybe they did and thought about
the dollars and said: “No”.
So why has it taken 13 months to get properly
fitting SRBA? Why have I not heard a thing
more of any arrival date for them? Why is it
most staff I have spoken to that have one, say
they are hot, heavy and can be uncomfortable
in the car, which differs from what we were
told they would be like in the IPA article and
initial promos about them?
Neal Phillips
(Papamoa)
Yes it has been quite an exercise. From
production difficulties to measuring
problems. This has caused delays with
issue. Our focus has been to identify the
problems and make sure Police are dealing
with them, as they arise. We knew there
would be a heat issue but safety couldn’t be
compromised. We’ll check on the gel packs
for future use.
– Amanda Craig (Industrial Officer)
A fine tradition continued
My father Bill Roughan died on 4 February
2007.
He was a sworn member of the New Zealand
Police from 19 March 1938. He served on the
West Coast and as a detective in Auckland
before and during World War II, and as a
constable in the Wairarapa. He retired in
1972.
He was an escort for Eleanor Roosevelt when
she visited New Zealand and was the last
surviving police officer of those involved in
the Stanley Graham tragedy.
During his retirement, he travelled extensively
and took up competitive wood chopping as a
hobby.
Although it is almost 35 years since he served
as a police officer he remained to the end proud
of his service in the Police and particularly the
community policing nature of his work in the
Wairarapa.
I am deeply grateful to the Police Association
for continuing to send my father the Police
News magazine and for honouring him at his
funeral by:
•
Having a police officer present;
•
Supplying the New Zealand Police flag to
drape over his casket; and
•
Providing a helmet to place upon the
casket.
You are maintaining a fine tradition and have
my gratitude and respect.
David Roughan
(Whangarei)
Ne w Zealand Police Association
And the winners are…
• Police Association President, Greg O’Connor, prepares to hit the key that will randomly generate the winners of the Police and Families Credit
Union prize draws recently. One lucky member from Papatoetoe won a 40-inch Bravia LCD TV valued at $4,000 while another from Howick
walked away with a DVD/HDD recorder valued at $1,000.
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Mayl 2007
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