For Maori Language Week, a specially designed police car was made to show support for Te Reo Māori and the commitment to recruiting more Māori officers across NZ. Source: Facebook / Waikato Police
Police have designed a new police car featuring a koru for Māori Language Week - but not everyone's impressed.
The car will be out and about in Counties Manukau this week, to show NZ Police's support for Te Wiki o te reo Māori.
Police show off the Te Reo police car.
The new-look police vehicle has the Māoritranslation for police (pirihimana) signwritten on it.
However former National MP Tau Henare claims the concept is moronic.
"51% of NZ's prison population is Māori," wrote Henare on Twitter. "This bullshi*t is about the most insensitive, barbaric and moronic thing I've ever seen."
On Facebook, the majority of Herald readers were positive about the vehicle that aims to celebrate the Māori language.
Most Kiwis on the NZ Herald Facebook page say the Te Reo vehicle is a good idea.
"Te Reo Māori is an official language of New Zealand, so the only question you should ask is why this has taken so long to appear on police cars," wrote Cohan Coleman.
Jasmine Horton Even said she was glad to see the Māori language used more and more.
"Kudos to whoever decided to do this," she wrote on Facebook.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police were "passionate about reflecting the communities we serve and working with Iwi to achieve better outcomes for Māori".
"We wanted to do something visible to show our support of te reo Māori and highlight our commitment to recruiting more Māori in Tamaki Makaurau, and across Aotearoa," Cmmr Bush said.
Tau Henare claims the concept is 'moronic'.
Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Chief Executive Māori, Wally Haumaha, says that the organisation aims to encourage the use of Te Reo right across the New Zealand Police.
"The more we can do to effectively communicate the better, and there are a number of instances where having an officer able to speak Te Reo and understand tikanga has really been advantageous in resolving situations."
The Herald understands a number of the cars will be introduced into the fleet with the plan to have a mix of signwriting on the police vehicles in either Māori and English.
