75 Years of Women in Policing national torch relay rolls into Waikato

The Police staff torch relay to mark 75 Years of Women in Policing is on its way around New Zealand and will arrive in the Waikato District next week.

The two halves of the illuminated torch, which represents the New Zealand Police tohu, started a tour of the twelve Policing districts on 24th of June simultaneously in Cape Reinga and Bluff.

One half is travelling up the South Island and another is travelling down the North Island, stopping off for events in a number of towns and cities along the way.

This week a torch half arrives in Waikato and will be passed through the region by women Police staff carrying out an array of special activities.

Acting District Commander Greg Nicholls said this is an opportunity for Police staff and the communities they serve to celebrate 75 years of women in Policing.

“In the last 75 years, Police and the communities we serve, have changed a lot.

Expectations and attitudes in 2016 are a far cry to those of 1941.

“This is an opportunity to acknowledge the role women have had in driving that change and an opportunity to celebrate diversity and the richness it brings to Police and the community,” said Mr Nicholls.

On Sunday 10th of July the torch half will be handed over from the Counties Manukau Police team in Mercer.

It will then travel by Police vehicles to the Huntly Boat ramp to be blessed by local iwi before it is escorted up the Waikato River by Police boat and Waka Ama to the Hamilton boat ramp.

On Monday 11th of July a march will take place from Hamilton Police Station to Civic Square where a reception will be held in the Hamilton City Council Civic Reception lounge.

From there the torch will be run, driven, and horse ridden in a relay through Ohaupo to Te Awamutu Police station where a lunch is being held.

After lunch the relay will take off again through to Karapiro Domain and then by bicycle to the town hall area where women Police staff will gather including Police displays involving the Physical Competency Test; Booze Bus; Dog Handlers and their animals, search and rescue staff and Armed Offenders Squad members.

On Tuesday 12th of July the relay will recommence at the Avantidrome where Sarah Ulmer will hand the baton to Police employees for a circuit before cycling to Morrinsville Station for a morning tea. The baton will then be taken via horse and cart through the main street to a waiting old Ministry of Transport vehicle. It will then be driven through to the bottom of Mt Te Aroha where Police women will run it to the top and back down again. Staff will cycle the torch to the L&P bottle in Paeroa where it will be handed over to Waihi Police staff.

On Wednesday 13th of July Waihi Police staff have arranged an array of events including cycling through Waikino Gorge rail trail, steam train to Waihi, before morning tea at Waihi Police station. It will then be driven to Waihi Beach surf club where an inflatable rescue boat will take it to Bowentown, before the torch will be paddle-boarded to Athenree. The torch will then be handed over to Bay of Plenty Police district staff at Katikati Police Station.

The national Police torch relay will culminate and see the two halves of the torch joined together at a national parade of retired and current women Police staff in Wellington on August 1st.

Police would love for any retired staff interested in participating in any of these events to attend.

For more details please email 75Years@police.govt.nz.

ENDS

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