A New Zealand First MP wrote to a senior police boss to voice "significant issues" about the possible transfer of a local sergeant who was also on the same school board of trustees as her.
Tracey Martin wrote a letter to Inspector Scott Webb on her official MP letterhead in her capacity as the chair of the Mahurangi College board of trustees about the redeployment of long-serving Sergeant Bede Haughey, the officer in charge of the Warkworth station.
You can view the letter Tracey Martin wrote to Inspector Scott Webb here.
Mr Haughey is also a parent trustee on the school board and Ms Martin said "we have developed a close working relationship over the past four years and this has extended outside the school to include many community initiatives" and his transfer would cause "significant issues".
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Advertise with NZME."During a recent meeting to discuss a youth initiative in Warkworth, Bede alerted me to possibility that he might be transferred to other duties in Orewa for 12 months and not be available to continue his work on these initiatives during that time. Such a move would present us with significant issues.
"I am confident that you will place a suitably qualified reliever at Warkworth station during Bede's absence but that person could not possibly get up to speed and make a meaningful contribution to the community in that time," Ms Martin wrote on March 31.
Tracey Martin (centre) with Denis O'Rourke (left) and Winston Peters (right). Photo / APN
The letter went on to detail Mr Haughey's involvement in the community and in particular battling the effects of legal highs.
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Advertise with NZME.Ms Martin finished her letter by stating: "While I have no intention or desire to influence the decision on where you place your resources, I did want to voice my concerns of the impact this might have on the Warkworth community".
Mr Webb, the area commander for Rodney, wrote back a month later to thank Ms Martin for her letter in support of Mr Haughey.
"The consideration to rotate Bede is one of an operational policing decision and careful consideration has been given to this."
The letters were released under the Official Information Act following claims that politicians were often in contact with police.
Peters: She's done nothing wrong
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said this morning that Ms Martin had done no wrong and was serving her electorate.
"There have been countless MPs in the past and the present who have written on such matters where they were concerned to lose a police presence in their area.
"No attempt was made other than to bring police attention to the very sound work that person had done. It was more a reference than anything else.
"I've done it myself, when I've seen a shipment of resources out of an area.''
Mr Peters said Ms Martin's actions could not be compared to National MP Maurice Williamson, who resigned last week after appearing to interfere in a domestic violence case.
"This is a whole lot different from writing on a matter where a violent assault has happened, to someone who wasn't even a constituent.'
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Advertise with NZME.Maurice Williamson resigned his ministerial portfolios last week after the Herald revealed he called a senior police officer about a National Party donor who was facing criminal charges.
The police reviewed the prosecution after the phone call, but the charges were not withdrawn.
In the police emails, Inspector Gary Davey said that he phoned Mr Williamson on January 28.
"He started by saying that in no way was he looking to interfere with the process, he just wanted to make sure somebody had reviewed the matter to ensure we were on solid ground as Mr Liu is investing a lot of money in New Zealand."
- Additional reporting Isaac Davison
