New North Shore District Police Station

North Shore City is to be the site of the largest police station built in New Zealand since Dunedin Central station opened in 1995.

A site for the new station has not yet been chosen, but it is expected to be in the rapidly growing northern part of the city, near or in the Albany Centre.

North Shore City Mayor George Wood, a former local police commander, has warmly welcomed today’s (November 14) announcement, as he has been urging for some time that more police be provided for the city, with much better facilities.

Police Minister George Hawkins made the announcement at the Takapuna Police Station, where Mr Wood worked as police district commander from 1995 to 1998.

“I can draw on the experience of three years of working in these premises, and I can assure the Minister that while Takapuna and North Shore City is a great place to work, the Takapuna station leaves a lot to be desired.

“It was cramped and difficult to work in then, and with another five years under the belt, it is even more so now,” says Mr Wood.

He says new premises further north will make a huge difference to both efficiency and morale for officers at Takapuna, and for those who will work there in the future.

The Minister has not said how much the new station will cost, but Police Department advisers have looked at stations in Australia and the United Kingdom, and it is expected to be “state of the art”.

Mr Hawkins said police numbers won’t necessarily be increased for the police district, which stretches from Devonport to include Waitakere City to Avondale, but stations at Devonport, Sunnynook, Northcote, Birkenhead and Beach Haven will be retained.

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