Canterbury Police are not only celebrating 75 years of women in policing but women from all emergency services at their Hagley Park event tomorrow.
The Police staff torch relay to mark 75 Years of Women in Policing is on its way around New Zealand and has now arrived in Christchurch.
The two halves of the illuminated torch which represents the New Zealand Police tohu started a tour of the twelve Policing districts on 24th of June simultaneously in Cape Reinga and Bluff.
One half is travelling up the South Island and another is travelling down the North Island, stopping off for events in a number of towns and cities along the way.
Tomorrow’s free public event, featuring displays from Police, St John, Fire and the Defence Force, is being held at the Hagley Park netball courts from 10am-4pm.
This celebration will have something for the whole family with opportunities to see if you can pass the police fitness test, test your running speed with a police radar, take fingerprints and see inside the new mobile police station and an ambulance.
During this event there will be an ongoing 500km relay fun run around the park - so bring your running shoes. The run length acknowledges the size of the district Canterbury Police cover.
District commander Superintendent John Price says this is a special occasion for the people of Canterbury and he and all of his staff are embracing the opportunity to honour the role of women in Police.
“We are one police and one team and our female staff are an integral part of how we police and respond to our diverse community. They bring different perspectives and approaches which has greatly enhanced the ability of our organisation.
We’re immensely proud in Canterbury of our women and this event reminds people how far we’ve come as an organisation when it comes to accepting diversity in policing and recognising the value women bring to the New Zealand Police,” he says.
The national Police torch relay will culminate and see the two halves of the torch joined together at a national parade of retired and current women Police staff in Wellington on August 1st.
Police would love for any retired staff interested in participating in any of these events to attend. For more details please email 75Years@police.govt.nz.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
For media coverage and interview opportunities please contact: Philippa Ormrod, media advisor, Philippa.ormrod@police.govt.nz