Carterton Mayor Gary McPhee's battle to get the town's police station manned has finally become a reality.
Yesterday, unsworn police officer Acacia Simpson worked her first shift on duty at the station and Mr McPhee said she would be a vital link between the constabulary and the community.
"She will act as
a conduit between the police and the community she'll be a founding post and she'll have her finger on the pulse," he said.
Mrs Simpson will be on duty weekdays between 10am and 2pm and Carterton District Council has already agreed to fund an extension of the hours if needed.
Mr McPhee said the council's financial commitment was probably the final impetus needed to get the station manned.
Carterton won the battle for a dedicated station officer in October last year after intense lobbying from Mr McPhee and the Carterton community.
"It's a really big win for the Carterton community the amount of work put in by myself and others for this cause was fairly extensive," he said.
Last year Mr McPhee lobbied Wellington Police District Commander Superintendent Pieri Munro to fund an unsworn officer, he said he had been "up and down the police hierarchy" in his efforts to get the station manned.
"I'd like to acknowledge our area commander John Johnston for seeing the need and helping us push our barrow," he said.
Mr McPhee also canvassed Wairarapa MP John Hayes and Police Minister Annette King and in May presented a 1945-signature petition to the Law and Order Select Committee.
"I'm so happy with the amount of support, especially from the community, because it was blatantly obvious Carterton needed a manned station."
