Pacific police chief grateful for NZ help

Ross Ardern's gratitude is evident as he talks about the help he has received from NZ Police and Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Secretariat staff five weeks' into his new job as Niue's Chief of Police...



Former Sub Area Manager for the Morrinsville area, Ross took up his secondment to the Pacific Island nation of Niue in July, accompanied by his wife Laurell. He says he expected conditions in Niue to be very different especially after the devastation caused by Cyclone Heta last year.

"The bulk of the aid money that came to Niue after cyclone Heta went into rebuilding infrastructure such as roads and communications and there was little left for Government buildings," says Ross.

The lack of essential supplies was evident right from the start.

"In my first week here I attended a very serious crash. A young girl had crashed a vehicle into a large rock on the side of the road. I called for a set of 'jaws of life' to cut her out of the vehicle but the best that we could produce was a hacksaw and a hammer."

Ross says the girl was badly injured and he doesn't want to hear screams like hers again as they tried to pull her from the vehicle.

"It is not until you call for additional common life saving equipment that you realise how much we take for granted in New Zealand."

Ross quickly put the call out to New Zealand friends and colleagues for much-needed equipment and supplies for the run-down police station. "My thanks go to the Wellington National Police Property Office for their efforts on my behalf and in particular Jonathan Leach who obtained used furniture and arranged for it to be shipped to Niue along with several tins of paint."

The Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Secretariat in Wellington has also helped Ross out by donating basic office stationery and have just sent over two huge foot lockers of supplies. Even the empty foot lockers will be put to good use – Ross plans to use them as gun cabinets.

Ross is looking forward to the next two years in Niue and he is well aware of the challenges ahead. "I have lots of challenges in front of me but I have 16 enthusiastic and willing staff. I'm fortunate in many ways to have the wonderful opportunity to create a police department from scratch."