Waitematā’s Organised Crime Team was all smiles during a recent visit to 'Give a Kid a Blanket' – and for good reason.
As part of Waitematā District’s response to combating meth-harm and other illicit drugs offences in the community, they have partnered with local West Auckland charity 'Give a Kid a Blanket' (GaKaB) who are providing much needed care packages for at-risk individuals identified as part of Op Manaaki.
Op Manaaki is one of several meth-harm and other illicit drugs initiatives being planned in district and is part of a wider district response to combating meth harm in community.
Op Manaaki lead, Detective Senior Sergeant Josh Lautogo, says the initiative provides his team with an opportunity to engage with at-risk individuals and whānau early, and helps to address factors that can lead to organised crime involvement.
“Traditionally, our team’s focus has been enforcement," says Josh. "While significant enforcement remains important, Op Manaaki recognises that lasting impact is often built through positive engagements, where small gains in trust and relationship-building creates long-term outcomes."
With support from the Police Partnerships and Harm Prevention team, GaKaB is providing care packages for Op Manaaki individuals and their whānau as assessed by Josh’s team. This includes providing basic pantry needs, heat-and-eat food options, cleaning and pet food supplies, bedding, clothing and baby products, depending on each person’s needs.
For GaKaB's Turtle Sarten and Bernie Harfleet, the opportunity to support Police in Waitematā District is not new. They have been running GaKaB since 2015 and have been supporting Waitematā workgroups since 2019.
“We were excited when we began working with Police," says Bernie. "We know that in the course of their work they often come across people who fall through the gaps in other services.
"Initially, most of our requests came through the Family Harm teams, but over the years, our relationship has grown and we now regularly support a wide range of Police staff and teams across Waitematā."
When they were approached to support Op Manaaki, Bernie says it helped to further affirm both their work in the community and that Police value the services they provide.
“The meth epidemic is terrible, and we’ve come face to face with its effects both through our community work in Ranui and at the monthly meal for people experiencing homelessness in Auckland’s CBD," says Bernie.
"We don’t pretend that blankets, clothing, food or other practical resources can solve these problems, but they can help met immediate needs, bring some stability to a difficult situation, and give Police another way to connect with people."
Acting District Prevention Manager Inspector Kelly Farrant says Op Manaaki is one of several meth-harm related initiatives the district has planned given the rise in meth harm and other illicit drug-related harm in their communities.
“We know methamphetamine continues to have a significant impact, contributing to family harm, mental health challenges, and a substantial proportion of Police demand.
"These initiatives provide an opportunity to address the issue from a different perspective, focusing not only on enforcement but also on the addiction and health factors that drive long-term harm. By taking a prevention and intervention approach, we can support better outcomes for individuals, whānau, and the wider community.”
Josh and Kelly credit the work GaKaB has provided to Waitematā with Op Manaaki providing an opportunity for their teams to work closely and learn more about the services they provide to the wider community.
“GaKaB provides an outstanding service to the Waitematā District and has been a trusted partner to our Family Harm teams for many years” says Kelly.
“We have worked closely alongside them on initiatives such as Operation Star, our annual family harm Christmas initiative, and have seen first-hand the positive impact they have within the community.
"Funding from the Partnerships and Harm Prevention team enables GaKaB to continue delivering vital support to those who need it most, while strengthening the broader network of care and support available across the district”.
For Josh, there is much to do in the Op Manaaki space and he believes this is not a one-off approach.
“Op Manaaki is something we aim to continue," he says. "Enforcement remains our core business, but initiatives like this complement our organised crime work.”
