Happy New Year!

It’s great to be back in the Electorate after the summer break. I hope you all got the chance to spend some quality time with family and friends.

The New Year is a great time to take stock. We can look back over the past twelve months, acknowledge the challenges we have faced, celebrate our achievements and set goals for the busy year ahead.

As Minister of Police I was privileged to join our district's Police recently to open the new Manurewa Police Station.

The $6 million station will be the base for 173 Police staff – including 50 of the 300 new frontline officers deployed by this Government in Counties-Manukau.

It’s a big, modern and well -equipped facility that will enable our officers and support staff to perform at their best.

Our Police are working tirelessly in the fight against crime and deserve plenty of support, good tools and good working conditions to continue making a positive difference in our communities.

A new shared facility between Police and Child, Youth and Family in Whakatane will ensure that child victims in the area receive the best care and protection, Police Minister Judith Collins said.

The new facility, which opened today, is the latest shared agency centre dedicated to reducing child abuse, bringing perpetrators to justice and keeping victims safe.

Over the past decade multi-agency centres or co-locations have opened in Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Hamilton, Tauranga, Whanganui and Petone.

Police Minister Judith Collins today opened the new Manurewa Police Station, and paid tribute to the work of local Police in reducing crime.

The station, which cost around $6 million, will be the base for 173 Police staff. The building replaces the old station which was too small for the growing number of Police in Manurewa.

Around 50 of the 300 new frontline officers deployed by the Government in Counties-Manukau are based at Manurewa.