Welcome to the 90th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Police Association.
Let me begin by acknowledging the wise, dedicated and, at times, persecuted, former members who laid the foundation for this association. Their hard mahi built the organisation we are proud to be part of today.
To the Minister of Police, Hon. Mark Mitchell: thank you for your continued support of Police and our members. I’ve always said the most important quality in a police minister is wanting the job. You clearly do, and your passion for the role is evident. I’ll speak shortly to some of the legislative changes your government has introduced that reflect this commitment.
To our life members, welcome. It’s a privilege to have you here as we march into our 90th year. You represent the many volunteers who have been the backbone of this Association over the decades.
I also want to acknowledge Lyn Fleming, who made the ultimate sacrifice on January 1st this year. New Zealand lost a truly special person that day. I extend my aroha to Bryn, Aren, Rayna, and all of Lyn’s whānau, friends, and colleagues.
As we gather for this 90th conference, I am stepping down after nine years in the role of president, capping off nearly 30 years of active association involvement.
I’m proud of my small part in the NZPA, but even more so of what the organisation stands for, and the incredible impact it has on the wellbeing of our members and their whānau.
It’s easy to criticise from the sidelines, especially in the age of social media, but the facts speak for themselves.
The NZPA is now one of the most respected unions in the country, with a strong and trusted brand. We are consistently sought for comment on major law and order issues and have played a key role in driving significant legislative change.
While pay rounds will always be challenging, and there is a clear need for remuneration reform, the association has secured real gains, both financial and compensatory, that far exceed what our pioneers in 1936 could have imagined.
The Welfare Fund, thanks in large part to the foresight of life member Dr Rob Moodie, delivers a suite of benefits that rival or surpass any comparable union. Every day this organisation enhances the wellbeing of Police staff and their families. To all our volunteers and staff – past and present – thank you. You are the heart of the association.
Policing remains a career like no other – full of challenges, opportunities, and deep engagement. It’s what makes it so rewarding but also demanding.
I acknowledge the legislative changes this government has introduced to support Police and meet community expectations. The continued support for the Firearms Registry is delivering results. Legislation targeting anti-social road users is exactly what communities have asked for. And most importantly, laws empowering Police to tackle the scourge of criminal gangs are making a real difference.
The gang conflict warrants have proven effective, even preventing a likely homicide. The ability to stop and search gang members during notifiable conflicts has shifted the balance in Police’s favour. The gang patch ban has been a game-changer making communities feel safer and reducing gang influence. I commend the Minister for driving this legislation. While I initially had concerns about enforcement and officer safety, Police has implemented it exceptionally well. Gangs have recognised the rules have changed and Aotearoa is better for it.
Looking ahead, the next legislative steps must consider how technology can be used to protect communities while also respecting individual privacy.
At this conference, we’ll discuss the potential of body-worn cameras and the legislative framework needed to support their use. Right now, we have technologies that can’t be deployed due to outdated laws or overly restrictive court interpretations.
When our Supreme Court rules that a photograph of a criminal in a public place constitutes a “search”, it shows a disconnect, not just with modern realities, but with the communities Police serve.
Facial recognition technology could be transformative for law and order in New Zealand, and I believe the association will support any government that enables its responsible use.
Under the new commissioner, we’ve seen a welcome shift in emphasis.
Offenders were being given too much leeway, and disorder and intimidation were going unchecked. Officers felt powerless, and communities were frustrated. That’s changing, and with it, we’re seeing reductions in various types of offending.
But we must not become complacent.
There are significant headwinds ahead, the biggest being the economy.
Rising unemployment, driven by low productivity, is not just a temporary issue. It’s structural. New Zealand must find new industries to create jobs and a future for our young people. We cannot continue to lose our best and brightest overseas, nor allow those who remain to feel unvalued and disenfranchised. These conditions breed crime, and worse, division.
We need politicians to make the hard calls, not just the popular ones that protect their seats. That means cross-party co-operation and long-term solutions.
The “back to basics” approach to visible policing is resonating strongly with the public. But with this comes a more hardline stance on public disorder and anti-social behaviour, and inevitably, that will lead to complaints and a flood of social media clips for the anti-police brigade to feed on.
Scrutiny of policing is essential, from individual officer actions to the policies and procedures we implement. But that scrutiny must be realistic and proportionate.
I believe the way our current Code of Conduct is interpreted and applied is flawed. It creates an unfair process, adds little value, and causes significant harm to both individuals and the organisation. I doubt that when Dame Margaret Bazley proposed it, she ever intended for performance issues to be treated as Code of Conduct breaches.
This is the key change we need: managers must step up and directly address performance and poor decision-making, rather than deflecting responsibility through a Code investigation. That’s a supervisory duty – not something to be outsourced.
Likewise, HR and ER must ensure we have a fair, robust, and proportionate employment investigation system that delivers outcomes, not just damage.
And, while we’re on the subject, the IPCA should have no role in employment matters. It is independent and should remain so.
The mental health of our members is, in my view, the most pressing issue facing both the Association and Police leadership today. For too long, we’ve known about the problem but we haven’t addressed it in a meaningful or sustained way.
We’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg. And if Police doesn’t take proactive steps to get ahead of this issue, we risk a full-scale collision with it.
Our biannual survey revealed some deeply concerning statistics:
- 54% of members identified mental health as a serious issue within police culture.
- 56% reported working while mentally stressed or traumatised.
These figures are not just numbers. They are a stark insight into the scale of the problem. They echo the findings of researcher Garth den Heyer, who concluded that 10% of officers meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.
Police wellness advisers are doing commendable work. They understand the gravity of the issue and are doing their best, but they cannot solve this alone. We need a comprehensive, system-wide solution. One that prevents another generation of police officers from being permanently harmed.
Minister, I urge you to consider allocating funds from the Proceeds of Crime to address this crisis. It would be a powerful and symbolic step to use the consequences of crime to support those who bear the burden of confronting it every day.
This afternoon, delegates will elect a new president.
I thank the three candidates for putting themselves forward.
While the role is incredibly rewarding, it comes with significant challenges that I am confident each of you is up to.
The incoming President will inherit an organisation in good heart, with strong member support, outstanding staff, and a clear mission to guide the way.
As our membership grows and becomes more diverse, we must ensure that such diversity is reflected in our committees, office holder positions and our board.
We also need to solve the puzzle of how to communicate effectively with newer members. The last sworn pay round showed just how critical clear and open communication is during periods of heightened friction and concern. The webinars introduced during the Police Employee negotiations were a step in the right direction and one to build on.
If the new President can tame the tiger that is social media, we may find a solution, but I caution: tread carefully. It’s a beast that doesn’t always respond well to reality.
Over the past nine years, the Welfare Fund has professionalised to meet the growing demands of regulation and compliance. This has made us stronger, building on the foundations of the past to ensure the Welfare Fund’s future. But there are risks, particularly those stemming from our country’s broken health system and the impact of that on health insurance.
I acknowledge the rising premiums and the strain these place on members. But dismantling our model won’t solve the problem: it will destroy it just when it’s most needed.
Our strength lies in unity.
Allowing members to cherry-pick welfare products will have long-term consequences that weaken the system for everyone.
To the delegates here today, thank you for stepping up.
We are a membership organisation, and so without you, there is no Association.
To our life members, thank you for showing us the way, continuing the honourable tradition of guiding the next generation.
I have full confidence that the Association will be just as strong in another 90 years.
It thrives on the passion of its members, the dedication of its staff, and most importantly, its clear mission:
“Enhancing the wellbeing of Police and their whānau.”
It has been an honour and a privilege to lead this organisation.
I thank those who supported me, those who challenged me and made me work harder, and most importantly, the members who serve their communities every single day.
Representing you all has been the highlight of my life.
