New police headquarters in Hastings officially opened today
Police Commissioner Mike Bush and Police Minister and Napier MP Stuart Nash will officially open the new police headquarters in Hastings this morning.
The new Eastern District Headquarters and Hawke’s Bay Police Station has been a long time coming but it now provides more than just the usual things that you find in a police station and will ease the burden on busy families.
A new feature will be the whānau room – a dedicated and safe space to enable staff to have flexibility with their children at shift changeover times.
Staff are often juggling childcare with their partners and this room enables their children to be handed over while staff complete their work for a shift.
“The whānau room fits well with the increasingly diverse workforce in Police, providing a supportive environment for staff with young children and helping with work-life balance,” says Sergeant Su Robinson.
“We know the juggle that child care can be for many families, and the extra pressure it puts on them. This is a way to help ease that pressure and support our staff,” Sergeant Robinson says.
“It will be a multi-purpose room, so outside of the shift changeovers we are thinking about how best to use the space in all manner of ways.”
District Commander Superintendent Tania Kura says the new building also includes a wellness room where people can go if they feel unwell or need a mental break.
“Looking after our health and wellness is important to keep us on top of our game, so we can serve our communities to the very best of our abilities. The wellness and whānau rooms show a real commitment to the staff here, to their wellness and to supporting their family commitments,” she says.
The new base will enable the district headquarters support services to be housed alongside the Hawke’s Bay Area policing team, with all the advantages that come with working together in one open space.
Relocation of the district headquarters from Napier to Hastings also provides resilience for policing in the district in the event of an earthquake.
“We would like to acknowledge our partners for the build; MCL Construction and GHD Woodhead Creative Spaces and the great working relationship we have had with Hastings District Council that has facilitated the build,” Superintendent Kura says.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst congratulated the Eastern District Police for their new headquarters which is standing proud in the Hastings’ CBD.
“This is one of the most significant investments in our CBD in the last 20 years, and is a great example of how all parties - government agencies, developers and council – can work together to see a successful project through to completion,” Mayor Hazlehurst says.
“Having all of the police services under one roof with a strong presence in the city will support the safety of our community she says.”
