New Auckland police base announced by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
A central Auckland business group is welcoming the police’s announcement that a new public-facing police base will be established on Federal St in Auckland’s CBD.
Richard Chambers, the new Police Commissioner who officially took up the role on Monday, said the 24/7 police base will “go a long way to address crime in central Auckland” and make “responding to crime in the CBD faster and more effective”.
”Currently, the 24/7 public counter for the Auckland City District is located at College Hill, approximately two kilometres away from the city centre. Relocating the 24/7 public counter will also provide a better service to the community.”
Scott Palmer
These live updates are now over.
Officer wearing gang patch
Scott Palmer
Asked about a police officer who was pictured wearing a gang patch, the Commissioner says is "very disappointed", but "from time to time we will make mistakes".
He wants to see staff acknowledge they could have made a better decision and lets the force and New Zealanders down.
The officer involved has accepted responsibility.
Stalking laws
Scott Palmer
The leaders are being asked about a Spinoff story about long-running harassment.
Christopher Luxon says there are "harrowing" stories about people being stalked.
That is why the Government is going to pass stalking legislation.
It will have a maximum penalty of five years in prison, he says.
"Help is on the way," the Prime Minister says.
Treaty Principles Bill
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Asked about TJ Peranara's haka, Luxon says it is an issue for him and the rugby union.
There is strong feelings on both sides of the debate and National won't support the Treaty Principles Bill at second reading.
Luxon says the hardest issues as a Government has been in the economic space, including "wrestling with the economic mess we inherited".
The Prime Minister says there is vast alignment on the economy, services and law and order across the three governing parties.
There are differences, such as on the Treaty Principles Bill, but that is the reality of a mature MMP environment, Luxon says.
Cost of station commercially sensitive
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The Commissioner says the cost of the station is commercially sensitive.
The support from the Government has been "exceptional" to make it possible.
It's entirely taxpayer funded, the Prime Minister says.
There had been some speculation about a public-private partnership being a model for the station, but the Police Minister confirms that hasn't taken place.
Chambers says the location is very central and proximate to key transport hubs. It is at the centre of all the activity, he says.
Asked if there are any more plans for another presence further downtown, Chambers says, "small steps".
The current public-facing counter is on College Hill, which is further away from the central business district.
Chambers says the College Hill building will still house other policing services. The old Vincent St station is up for sale.
The Commissioner expects an improvement in trust and confidence with the new station being stood up.
Police visibility has a direct connection to safety and perceptions of safety, he says.
Luxon says new station needed
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The Prime Minister says the new station is really necessary.
Violent crime and ram raids were up when he came into power.
He says the Government defined the problem and have been looking for solutions.
There has been a "good reaction" from the public and retailers.
"It is exactly what we want to see," he says.
Wayne Brown 'delighted' at new station
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Mayor Wayne Brown says he is "delighted" about the new station.
The Council has been happy to work with other groups on the safety strategy.
The Mayor says the city isn't just Queen St, but Karangahape Rd and Ponsonby.
He wants to see more people come into the city and see the new Christmas tree and feel safe.
Focus on back to basics for officers
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Mitchell says a lot of legislation has been introduced and passed with a focus on back to basics for officers.
He acknowledges Mayor Wayne Brown.
He says every stakeholder involved in the safety of the CBD were brought together about nine months ago including business associations, iwi, and non-government organisations.
That was effective in terms of aligning a strategy around safety in the CBD.
People who work and reside in the city deserve to be in a safe environment and we're heading in that direction, Mitchell says.
Mitchell welcomes Chambers to role
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Police Minister Mark Mitchell welcomes Richard Chambers to the role.
He says it's not a bad way to start in the role by opening a new police station.
Mitchell says he was on the beat when he started his career and he loved it.
You can hone your police skills and build relationships with businesses, Mitchell says.
The beat team are doing an "outstanding job" and there has been fantastic feedback.
Mitchell acknowledges the Prime Minister for his support over the past year.
"He has been unwavering in that."
Crackdown on gangs
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The focus on law and order has included going after the gangs "hard".
Luxon commends police on their work enforcing the gang patch ban law and their gang disruption unit.
"We are sending a message very strongly to young people that gang life is not a way forward for you or your family."
Other areas of focus has been serious young offenders and investing in growing the police force.
The good news is that attrition rates are consistent with where they have been for the last decade and demand is growing into next year, the Prime Minister says.
There has also been work on sentencing laws, with Luxon pointing out stalking offences and name suppression changes.
PM 'incredibly optimistic' for NZ
Scott Palmer
The Prime Minister says he is feeling "incredibly optimistic" for the future of New Zealand a year into the job.
There is still work to do and the Government is in a "turnaround job", he says.
He wants to rebuild the economy to reduce the cost of living for people.
Getting the economy right means the Government can invest in the likes of education and health.
He says the Government has also been focused on restoring law and order.
Christopher Luxon speaks
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Christopher Luxon congratulates Chambers on his first day in the role.
The Prime Minister said it was special to have a photo with the Commissioner and a new officer on the beat team.
Police Commissioner opens standup
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Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is speaking alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.
They are at the new police base, which will home 51 beat staff and other operational police units, including prosecutional staff.
This brings police's presence back into the CBD, Chambers says. It is possible with support and investment from the Government.
The beat staff will work 24/7 across the district. There will also be a public counter mid-2025, Chambers says.
He says this is the district he began his career in in 1996.
He worked the beat and understands how important it is to have police here.
Chambers says he is "sincerely grateful" to the Government, the Mayor and other police officers.
Auckland Mayor in attendence
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Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is also in attendance at the announcement.
Announcement comes after calls for greater police presence
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At last October’s local body elections, some candidates, including Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck, pushed for a downtown police station to reopen to combat rising crime and anti-social behaviour.
The downtown police station had been closed under the last National Government in 2013.
Luxon, police to speak on new base
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Police have announced a new base will be set up on Federal Street in Auckland’s CBD.
The Police Commissioner will provide more details this afternoon alongside the Prime Minister and Police Minister at the Federal Street police premises in Auckland.
The Herald will livestream the media stand-up, which will take place at about 4pm.
A lease agreement has been signed to gradually take full occupancy of the site at 210 Federal St from January next year. A public counter will be open to people from mid-2025.
Chambers said the site will house the 51 beat officers as well as prosecutorial staff.
He highlighted it is located near key centres of activity, like Aotea Square and across the road from Te Waihorotiu Railway Station.
“I have no doubt that we will see an improvement in trust and confidence, that our visibility directly connects to the [public’s] safety,” Chambers said at a press conference on Monday.
He couldn’t say how much money it was costing to stand up the new station, calling that commercially sensitive.
“The support we have had from Government has been exceptional to make this possible, but I am not able to mention figures,” Chambers said.
Asked what had changed since police closed the downtown station on Fort St in 2013, Chambers said: “We have a very supportive Government here that is very keen to build our presence across cities across the country.”
Labour’s police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen said the announcement comes “on the same day 173 non-sworn police roles have been cut”, and warned frontline police will spend more time covering desk work.
“Having police more visible does make people feel safer, which is great for the central city. However, I remain concerned that police are shifting resource from the front line to sit at a public desk and field complaints,” Andersen told the Herald.
Viv Beck, the CEO of Auckland’s city centre business association group, Heart of the City, said they were “very pleased” to hear of the permanent police station.
“With overall crime trending down over the last year, this is key piece of the safety solution we have been seeking. It will enable a faster and more effective response to crime in the city centre, act as a deterrent and provide a place people can go to report crime in person,” she said in a statement.
“With pedestrian counts of around a million here each week and growth forecast ahead, it’s important to keep a strong focus on safety improvements as we strive to be a vibrant, safe 24/7 international city.
“And with the City Rail Link due to open in 2026, with its own specialised safety needs underground, this central location will be well placed to service the city centre and meet these changing needs.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell also welcomed the announcement.
”Public safety is at the heart of this Government’s law-and-order programme, and increasing police visibility across our main CBDs is a key part of that.
“Having a central police base, alongside the city’s beat team, is exactly what people expect and what our major city needs. It will enable police to respond more quickly to crime and ensure the public feel safer when going about their daily business.”
Both Chambers and Mitchell said during their press conference that they had worked on the beat in the city centre early in their careers.
Mitchell said it helped hone officers' skills and build relationships with businesses.
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the formation of the coalition Government, the parties of which campaigned heavily on law-and-order issues.
There has been a focus placed on responding to crime in central Auckland amid concerns from local residents and businesses.
That included establishing the new community beat police teams in June. That saw 21 additional police staff based in the Auckland CBD, taking the overall team there to 51.
The Government’s gang patch ban also came into force last week. Chambers on Monday said 16 prosecutions had been launched since the ban came into effect, but he was “really encouraged” by gang members making good decisions.
One of those arrested under the new law was the president of the Head Hunters West chapter for displaying insignia in public. He was identified as being one of five motorcyclists wearing Head Hunters West patches in the Wellsford area at around 1.20am on November 21. The ban came into operation at midnight that day.
Mitchell said last week that he was pleased with a reduction in overall victimisations over the past year. However, between January and September this year, there has been an increase in theft and related offences, up 12% compared to the same period last year.
“Retail crime continues to be an area of significant challenge and the Government is working tirelessly to get on top of it. Theft in the retail space continues to grow but I am pleased to see the trend slowing at the more violent end.”
Monday also marks Chambers’ first day as Police Commissioner. He was announced as taking the top job last week. He said that among his priorities will be “doing the basics well” and supporting frontline police.