The annual Tāmaki Makaurau Ethnic Hui took place last week, bringing together Police staff to celebrate diversity, unity and shared purpose.
More than 150 constabulary and Police employees gathered at the Tzu Chi Foundation in Ōtara, reflecting the rich cultural diversity within Police and the communities we serve.
This year’s theme - Many Cultures, One Purpose - highlighted Police’s collective commitment to inclusion, connection and service.
The hui began with a warm welcome and blessing from Tzu Chi, followed by a formal address from Commissioner Richard Chambers that set the tone for a day of reflection and inspiration, speaking of the valuable experience ethnic staff bring with them.
“Thanks for being who you are and what you do each day," he said. "The work you do now will shape how we operate in the future as an organisation."
Another highlight was the open panel session with District Commanders Superintendent Shanan Gray, from Counties Manukau, and Superintendent Naila Hassan, from Waitematā, who spoke about the ethnic strategy and the role of ethnic staff in districts.
“One of the reasons for the DC panel was to demystify the role of district commanders,” says acting Inspector Andrew Lui. “Sometimes highly ranked officers can be perceived by ethnic staff as intimidating. This is often due to the deep respect for rank and authority embedded in many of our cultures.”
The programme continued with a practical and insightful presentation on bilingual interviewing techniques, delivered by Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin, acting Detective Senior Sergeant John Swailes and Manukau Crown Prosecutor Natalie Walker.
The hui also served as a heartfelt farewell to Jessica Phuang, a long-standing champion of ethnic engagement, who is retiring after 22 years of dedicated service.
After lunch, attendees took part in a series of workshops featuring presenters from across Police including Dog Section, CIB, Intel, FMC, 105 and Comms. These sessions offered great insights into career pathways and opportunities for growth.
This year’s hui was a powerful reminder of how our diverse backgrounds enrich our organisation and strengthen our shared purpose. Planning is already under way for next year’s event and the team is excited to build on this year’s success. Watch this space!
