Wilkinson Kate: Policing Bill — First Reading 
Wilkinson Kate: Policing Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:645;Page:14373] 
KATE WILKINSON (National) 
: 
 I am pleased to rise today to also speak in support of the Policing Bill at this first reading. We in the National Party are strong supporters of our police force. These men and women do a difficult job and for the most part they do it exceedingly well in difficult circumstances. We all must be strong supporters of the police in New Zealand and in that sense I am pleased to see this bill recognising the need to rewrite the 50-year-old Police Act of 1958—when my colleague Chester Borrows was 1-year-old—to reflect the realities of modern policing and equip the New Zealand Police to provide the best policing services that we can to all New Zealanders. I also firmly hope that this legislation will be an important step in restoring public confidence in our police force after a series of knocks in recent years. 
The Police Act which dictates the governance organisation and administration of the New Zealand Police was in dire need of reformation and the facts speak for themselves here with more than 25 amendments being made to it since 1958. Our society has changed enormously since the introduction of the Act in 1958 and therefore the context—and we have heard about this several times tonight in the speeches—of modern policing in New Zealand must change along with it. 
I am pleased to see that this bill stays true to the spirit of the original Act and to the first principles on which it was founded. These basic principles as referred to earlier by my colleague Mr Borrows largely remain the same within this Policing Bill and are described as having stood the test of time. The new bill applies these principles to the situations we now face in the 21st century and better positions us for the future. I think it is important to reiterate and reflect on those principles and I think they are worth repeating and are worth re-emphasising. Those principles are that principled effective and efficient policing services are a cornerstone of a free and democratic society under the rule of law; that effective policing relies on a wide measure of public support and confidence; that policing services are provided under a national framework but also have a local community focus; that policing services are provided in a manner that respects human rights; that policing services are provided independently and impartially; and finally that in providing policing services every police employee is required to act professionally ethically and with integrity. 
Many members of the public will be happy to see the incorporation of many of the recommendations made by the Bazley report of April 2007 in response to the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct. The establishment of the new code of conduct which from 1 February 2008 now applies to all New Zealand Police employees both sworn and unsworn outlines the standards of behaviour expected and allows everyone to better understand their professional responsibilities and the way in which this impacts on the organisation. The cornerstone of this code is that all employees of the New Zealand Police will work to the highest ethical standard. Internal disciplinary arrangements have also been aligned with the new code of conduct environment. It is important that the New Zealand public understands that policing in our country is done in a legitimate and principled way and that issues of the past have not undone the trust and the faith that we have put in this organisation. 
The review of the Police Act is encouraging in that it has already been subjected to an extensive round of consultation before getting to this point. New Zealanders have been given several opportunities to have their say about the future face of our police force. As well as over 80 meetings that took place around the country including over 1200 people a Policing Bill wiki was launched giving ordinary New Zealanders an innovative way to suggest wording for the new Act by posting their suggestions on a website—similar to an online whiteboard. This wiki format which is similar to Wikipedia—an online encyclopaedia—has generated a lot of attention both here and overseas. It has been a great tool in encouraging the public to actively engage with the public sector and to put their views forward. It is something that we may see more of in the future. 
Another important feature of this Policing Bill is the recognition that the police do not have a monopoly on policing. Although this may seem obvious to some it is the first time there has been an acknowledgment in legislation that says policing is a shared responsibility—shared between a number of partner organisations and both the public and the private sector—as well as recognising the efforts of individual citizens. We can all help to uphold the law keep the peace and prevent crime. Social agencies along with local authorities can work alongside the police in supporting the social well-being of our communities. We can and we all must make a positive contribution to a safer New Zealand and we must take up this challenge. 
I hope that through this bill we are able to allow greater support and guidance for police work and confirm and strengthen police governance accountability and organisational arrangements in a way that really does reflect 21st century New Zealand. I hope that we can improve effectiveness and establish a clear framework for the exercise of policing powers by particular police employees. By doing this we will allow for the delivery of better policing services for New Zealanders and it is only then that we can have a truly modern police force in New Zealand. 
It is also important to reflect on the police mandate and their key areas of responsibility which are: crime prevention keeping the peace and maintaining public safety law enforcement community support and reassurance national security participation in policing activities outside New Zealand and emergency management. We cannot overemphasise the vital role of our police force. It is imperative that it has this mandate—the right tools to undertake that role. This bill adds to that tool kit and we support both the police and this bill. 
Bill read a first time.