75 years of women in policing national torch relay rolls into Bay of Plenty

FILE

The police staff torch relay to mark 75 years of women in policing is on its way around New Zealand and it will arrive in Bay of Plenty next week.

The two halves of the illuminated torch which represents the New Zealand Police tohu started a tour of the twelve Policing districts on June 24 simultaneously in Cape Reinga and Bluff.

One half is travelling up the South Island and another is travelling down the North Island, stopping off for events in a number of towns and cities along the way.

This week a torch half arrives in Bay of Plenty and will be passed through the region by staff carrying out an array of special activities.

Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor says the New Zealand Police have come a long way since June 1941 and he's proud to see women across the district celebrate these developments.

"Today in the Bay of Plenty we have 258 women working for us who make up about 34% of our workforce.

"Their roles range from the front line response to those in support functions, investigations and prevention areas up to the rank of Senior Sergeant.

"It was great to get 157 of our women together from across the district recently for a development day.

"The organising committee put a lot of effort into the day and we had some great key notes speakers attend from outside of the district where they shared their experiences with the group about their journeys so far," Mr McGregor said.

"I have been invited to speak at a function hosted by the Mayor of Rotorua next Friday for our women and then it's off to Mount Ngongataha where I will be carrying the torch down the luge."

Timetable:

Wednesday July 13:

The torch will be carried along main street Katikati to the station for an afternoon tea.

Thursday July 14:

1:30pm Waitahanui, Taupo.

(Carpark by River to Taupo Airport)

1.45pm Helicopter from Airport (Fly over LakeTaupo).

2.00pm Helicopter disembarks at Wharewaka Reserve.

Torch travels via road bike to 2 Mile Bay.

2:30pm Leave 2 Mile Bay boat ramp via jet ski.

Shane McNally and a female crew member will travel across the lake to Scout Den, Lake Front.

2:40pm Scout Den along Lake Front via horse to water treatment plant

2:50pm Parade from water treatment plant to Police station.

For the parade along the lake front there will be Police Tractor, Police vehicles, road bikes, motorbikes, walkers/runners.

3:15pm Formal function upstairs at Taupo Police station.

Friday July 15:

8:30am: The torch will be driven through Murupara, cycled to Eight Mile Gate, mountain biked through the Redwood Visitors Centre, run from there to Rotorua Station.

1pm: An afternoon tea with retired, past and present staff and Rotorua Mayor will be held at Rotorua Station.

1:45pm: The relay starts again with the torch being marched from the station to the lakefront where it'll be kayaked to Bennetts Road, from here it will be run from Kawaha Point to Skyline Skyrides.

3:35pm: At Skyline Skyrides the torch will be taken on some luge rides, including by District Commander Superintendent Andy McGregor.

4:30pm: The torch will be driven to Te Matai Road where it'll be handed over to Tauranga staff.

5pm: The torch will be received at Greerton Station.

Saturday July 16:

11am: The torch will be transported by waka from Sulphur Point to Pilot Bay.

12pm: It will then be carried around Mauao and be received at the Mount Manganui station.

1.30pm: The torch will be transported via pushbike to Papamoa Station

3.30pm: The torch will be carried from Memorial Park via Devonport Rd and the Strand to the Tauranga Police station

Sunday July 17, 11am:

The torch will travel via Vintage car to Otamaraukau to be handed onto to the Eastern Bay of Plenty staff.

Then a relay from Kawerau to Whakatane will take place involving transport by vintage cars, rail carts, patrol cars & cyclists.

The relay will go via Te Teko, Edgecumbe, & Tanetua stations

Monday July 18, 9:30am:

Short Parade through Whakatane CBD with present/past members - sworn and employees.

Vintage Fire Engine Ride from Station to Port Ohope, Ohiwa Harbour Wainui via Paddleboard, Wainui to Opotiki to Te Kaha via patrol car.

4pm: Hand over to Gisborne at Potaka.

The full itinerary of events happening across the country can be found at www.police.govt.nz/about-us/75-years-women-police.

The national police torch relay will culminate and see the two halves of the torch joined together at a national parade of retired and current women Police staff in Wellington on August 1st.

Police would love for any retired staff interested in participating in any of these events to attend.