A new tradition: Police host its first Iftar dinner as part of Ramadan

It was a historic night for police, hosting a traditional part of Ramadan for the south Auckland Muslim community.

On Thursday, more than 120 people packed out Counties Manukau police's headquarters.

It's the first time police in New Zealand have hosted an Iftar dinner.

Iftar is a traditional part of the Holy Month of Ramadan for Muslims. During Ramadan, fasting occurs from dawn until sunset and to celebrate breaking the fast, the Iftar dinner is held.

Imam Alhaji Molvi Abdul Shafeez, of Masjid Al-Mustafa, lead the prayer inside the police station's whare.

He said it was a "privilege" to be part of an event that brought the muslim community and police together.

"This is a milestone achievement in the South Pacific, not only in New Zealand," he said.

"It's just like a bridge binding two ends together - one side is the muslim community and the other is the law of the land."

And for police it makes inroads to relations with the Muslim community, Counties Manukau district commander Superintendent Jill Rogers said.

Police already host Christmas, Chinese New Year, Diwali and Buddha's Birthday events, she said.

"It adds another chapter in us understanding the community that we police," she said.

"It makes me immensely proud to see that we're embracing the diversity that is in our community.

"They feel part of us, and as you see they can come in here and join with us."

Counties Manukau West area commander Inspector Naila Hassan spoke at the beginning of formalities.

Hassan, one of the highest ranking Muslim police officers in the country, said she spent the first two decades in her career hiding her religion to colleagues.

It wasn't until becoming an inspector, and seen as a role model, that she was challenged to start acknowledging it.

It was a "turning point" for her, she said.

Responding to Hassan's story, Rogers said it highlighted how far police have come.

"You think 'how have staff had to hide who they were?', but now it is okay to be who they are," she said.