King Colin: Policing Bill — In Committee 
King Colin: Policing Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:649;Page:17875] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 Part 2 “Organisation and governance” is of considerable interest because we see very much the visible part of policing as the uniform in our communities. Part 2 really does come to grips with the very structure and we know that any organisation is only as effective as it is well structured. So when we look at this bill which we look forward to becoming the Policing Act we see that it is applied very much to the present-day context. It takes into consideration the principles the national context and the community context—that importance of building confidence with the community so the community supports policing in a positive way. It puts everything very much in a positive context; the importance of where human rights are recognised today the independence of police the impartiality of the police the professional aspects and ethics of policing and that all builds towards integrity and community support. 
The functions of the police are pretty basic. They would not have changed I imagine from the original set-up of policing as we know it such as the keeping of peace law enforcement crime prevention community support and reassurance national security participation in policing activities outside New Zealand and emergency management. When we stop and think about those storms we had last week and of the saying: “A day in politics is a long time” well that week seemed like a year. This time last week we were all trying to commute out of Wellington to get back to our electorates and it was wonderful to see just how busy Nathan Guy was—the outstanding member who lives in Otaki. He got out there amongst the farmers alongside the police and the emergency management services and helped to nurse and heal his future electorate back to good health. 
I was not able to get back to Blenheim until the Friday but it gave me great pleasure to be able to write a letter to the editor acknowledging with humility and respect the contribution the police had made along with all those other people in the community and civil defence towards securing the safety of the people of Marlborough. It is on that very basis that Part 2 really comes to grips with the structure around policing. 
I turn to Subpart 2 that talks about the appointment of the commissioner. I think that particular process is laudable in the sense that the tone of any structure or any organisation is set from the top. It is just so very important that that process is clearly defined and stuck to with rigour. We see that the process for the appointment of the commissioner is at the pleasure of the Governor-General but on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. 
That also applies in clause 13 “Appointment of Deputy Commissioners” again in subclause (1) “on the recommendation of the Prime Minister” and in subclause (2) “at the pleasure of the Governor-General.” So that part of Subpart 2 takes us through the appointment of the commissioner which no doubt sets the very tone for the policing structure as was borne out again by Chester Borrows with his considerable experience. That tone set at the top of the policing structure is an issue that needs to be considered always because clause 20 “Code of conduct” states: “(1) The Commissioner must prescribe a code of conduct for Police employees stating the standards of behaviour expected from Police employees.” Clause 22 is headed “Police employee becomes constable by taking constable’s oath”. That is interesting and I would like to hear the oath spoken in Maori. So if the Maori Party member has the opportunity of going to clause 22(1) I will do my best effort to read out the oath in English. Basically it states that the constable swears to faithfully and diligently serve Her Majesty Queen of New Zealand and her heirs and successors.