Women in Policing celebrations take shape

Plans are taking shape for celebrations to mark the 75th Anniversary of Women in Policing.

Minister of Police Judith Collins and Commissioner Mike Bush will launch the anniversary activities in Auckland on 3 June, 75 years to the day since the first ten women went into training in Newtown, Wellington.

Districts are planning a range of celebratory events - and on 24 June a relay will start simultaneously at the top of the North Island (Cape Reinga) and the bottom of the South Island (Bluff).

It promises to be a colourful and celebratory few weeks for Police as women and men make their way the length of New Zealand in various forms of transport, involving the community in many different ways.

The north and south legs of the relay will come together in Wellington on August 1, when there will be a parade of constabulary and non-constabulary members, as well as retired staff, through the streets to Parliament.

Invitations are being sent to retired staff to participate in district activities and attend the Wellington parade. Planners are working with Retired Police Clubs and the Police Association to ensure all those interested are contacted.

Names can also be forwarded directly to Helen Flannery at Police National Headquarters.

We are also developing stories for the media on women currently in Police as well as profiling some of the amazing women who have forged the way over the past 75 years and enabled changes to be made to the organisation’s policy and culture.

Our picture shows the first intake of women pictured with their instructor at the training depot in Newtown, Wellington, in June 1941(Photo: NZ Police Museum)