Greetings to you all for the last time in 2011, a tumultuous year in which Police staff rose magnificently to many challenges, from the shattered streets of Christchurch to the heaving streets of Auckland during Rugby World Cup.

 

I'll be back on the streets of Auckland in the coming days, visiting police stations in Auckland on Christmas Day and working through the week, culminating in a twilight shift on New Year's Eve. Policing is a 365-day-a-year business and I believe it's important to support frontline staff during holiday periods, particularly those working on Christmas Day. It's then my intention to take a few days off before returning to Police National Headquarters in Wellington on 16 January.

 

On another visit to Auckland recently I took part in a morning tea to farewell Auckland City District Commander George Fraser after his 36 years' service to Police. He's our most senior and longest-serving current district commander, having been commander in Southern District before taking over in Auckland. It was a poignant occasion, made more so for me by the fact George and I were at college in Takapuna together in the 1960s.

 

His last active duty will come when I fly to Auckland for the Christmas period. George will meet me at Auckland Airport and I'll then drive him to his home. This isn't something Commissioners generally do for retiring district commanders, but it'll be an honour to share George's Ten-Zero - the Police call sign which means 'off duty' - as he signs off on a career in which he has served Police and New Zealand so well.

 

I've been out and about elsewhere. In Canterbury district I attended a children's Christmas function, visited the Christchurch Red Zone and met duty staff at the Southern Communications Centre. The esprit de corps among Police staff in Canterbury, which was so noticeable in the aftermath of the earthquakes, is still very obvious. The Comms Centre staff were absolutely splendid during the February earthquake - you can imagine the volume of emergency calls they had to deal with, and they did it wonderfully well despite the shock they had suffered along with the rest of the city. It seems Comms Centre staff only come to public attention when something goes wrong, but they are a thoroughly engaged and professional group of men and women and their great work deserves recognition.

 

Last Monday I spent the day visiting police stations in the New Plymouth area, seeing designs for the new Central Police Station and looking at where personnel will be temporarily housed in a warehouse during the construction period.

 

Otherwise, it has been a busy time with the announcement of Anne Tolley as Minister of Police. We've spent time briefing her and supplying her with relevant correspondence. She will be a very engaged and interested Minister, as she showed by attending the graduation of Recruit Wing 271 at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua the day after being sworn in at Government House.

 

We have seen some excellent police work in 2011. It's no accident we're New Zealand's most trusted Government department. We have the highest trust and confidence rating we've ever recorded and our reputation is very strong among members of the public.

 

Look after yourselves during the festive period and take the opportunity to enjoy the company of family and friends. I look forward to leading Police in 2012 and tackling the challenges of the coming year.