Rural Women New Zealand has welcomed the Canterbury Police District’s decision to withdraw its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.

RWNZ National President Sandra Matthews says the decision reflects the strength of rural community feedback and the importance of genuine engagement when decisions directly affect rural safety and wellbeing.

“This is the right outcome for Canterbury’s rural communities, and we commend Police for listening to the genuine concerns of local people,” Matthews says.

“The proposed closures risked undermining the trust, accessibility, and sense of security that come from having a visible local police presence. A lot of rural policing is about relationships that Police build with their communities, which is something that we don’t think can be imitated by centralised hubs.”

RWNZ wrote to both Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson expressing deep concern over the proposal to close rural police stations including Amberley, Culverden, Rakaia, and Pleasant Point.

“We warned that removing local stations would risk slower emergency response times, and weaken deterrence against rural crimes such as theft, illegal hunting and trespassing.”

Matthews says the Canterbury Police District’s statement acknowledging the need for ‘buy-in from the rural community’ is also a positive sign.

“Rural communities really value their partnership with local Police, and this process has shown how valuable that is. We encourage Police to continue engaging closely with local people when exploring new approaches to service delivery.”

About Rural Women NZ

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is a nationwide charitable membership organisation with a proud history over nearly 100 years of empowering and supporting women at the heart of rural communities. With regional branches and groups across the country providing connection and support, we are recognised as a leader across the rural sector and provide a trusted voice on issues affecting rural communities. You can learn more about RWNZ on our website.

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