1. RON MARK (NZ First) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
What assurances can she give that the New Zealand Police are to be adequately resourced to cope with existing and future demands?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Police) Link to this
In the time we have been in Government we have recruited almost 1,400 more police. Over the next 3 years, through our agreement with New Zealand First, we will recruit another 1,000 sworn front-line police to provide—[ Interruption] I am absolutely delighted that the National Party can see what a good job we are doing. After all, the National Party could not achieve it when it was in Government. We will recruit another 1,000 sworn, front-line police to provide the public of New Zealand with the reassurance it needs that we are committed to making its communities as safe as we possibly can. It is good news.
Having had such good news to share with the House, can the Minister now reconfirm to the House what extra resources will be needed on top of the 1,000 sworn front-line police officers?
Rodney HideI am quite sure that the ACT party would like a new leader—1.5 percent! Old “1.5 percent” himself! What extra resources do we need? We are not going to fall into the trap that sometimes has happened in the past, particularly in the 1990s. There is no point recruiting 1,000 extra sworn, front-line police unless we put in extra resources around equipment, infrastructure, and non-sworn staff alongside the sworn staff. We are committed to doing that, and the details will be provided as we work through them with New Zealand First.
Simon PowerDoes the Minister agree with New Zealand First’s deputy leader, Peter Brown, who told the New Zealand Herald on 1 December 2005: “there is some confusion. Dr Cullen and myself have identified that and it is being worked on.”, and if not, can she confirm that the confusion was actually identified by the National Party, not by New Zealand First?
The only confusion that members of the National Party could confirm is amongst themselves about who will be the next leader.
Ann HartleyYes; in addition to the normal recruiting approaches, the police are now working on a wide range of new initiatives. I am told that the current projections are positive, but the employment market is competitive and I certainly do not underestimate the job in hand. Where possible, police recruit people from the local community and they often are placed back into those communities. I am also told that the Royal New Zealand Police College has capacity to train the additional sworn front-line staff, as well as cope with normal attrition.
How much time was spent by the Minister’s office drafting Ron Mark’s patsy question for this afternoon?
Madam SPEAKERWill the member please ask his question. All members should remember that questions are heard in silence.