'Meet and greet' as Kawakawa cop shop returns to full staffing

Kawakawa police are holding a 'meet and greet' at the station on Albert St this Friday. Photo / file

Kawakawa police are throwing open the doors and welcoming in the public for a ''meet and greet'' tomorrow.

The event, which starts at 4pm, is being touted as chance for Kawakawa and Moerewa residents to meet their local cops, but it also aims to show the station is back up to full strength after a few years of low staffing.

Acting Sergeant Mark Barratt said he hoped the event would ''build confidence in the community'' following the introduction of 24/7 policing in Mid North, which is shared between Kaikohe, Kerikeri and Kawakawa.

Staff currently based at Kawakawa police station on Albert St included a senior sergeant, an acting sergeant, a youth officer, a community constable and six regular constables. A permanent sergeant was about to be appointed.

''It's the first time in a long time we've had a full team here ... We'd just like people to have an opportunity to come along and meet the police who are working out of the station,'' he said.

Kawakawa Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance and the town's newly established Community Patrol would be present at the meet and greet, and he hoped to have a police dog as well.
Other attractions would include a free sausage sizzle and giveaways for kids.

The station's front counter would start opening again during business hours when officers were in the station.