New iwi liaison officer to build on police ties

ID 131596/JILL McKEE

MANA: Constable Simon Kairau talking about his appointment as kaitakawaenga/iwi liaison officer at Murihiku Marae yesterday.

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Southland's new kaitakawaenga is determined to bridge any cultural divide between police and Maori.

Iwi liaison officer Constable Simon Kairau was welcomed into the role in a formal ceremony held at Murihiku Marae in Invercargill yesterday to recognise his appointment in August.

Of Ngai Tahu and Ngapuhi descent, Mr Kairau said the powhiri was also his symbolic handing over to southern iwi by police kaumatua and was attended by police hierarchy as well as community and iwi leaders.

He planned to maintain the good relationship that had been built between police and Maori by his predecessors in the role, he said.

In a departure from two years at the frontline of policing the role was more proactive than reactive and was about identifying key Maori groups, iwi, hapu and whanau and their relationships and acting as intermediary between police and Maori by looking at issues affecting both parties.

He also has a responsibility for education and for training police staff in Maori protocols through to kapa haka and waiata groups within the police force, Mr Kairau said.

Mr Kairau is based at the South Invercargill Police Station in Janet St.

Iwi liaison officers were introduced into New Zealand Police in 1992. Maori make up about 800 of 11,000 police members nationally.