Big celebration planned for newly promoted and honoured policeman

Assistant Commissioner Wallace Haumaha at Police National Headquarters. Photo/Mark Mitchell

A Queen's Birthday Honour has been awarded to one of Rotorua's most well-known, respected and loved police officers - Wallace Patrick Haumaha (Te Arawa, Tainui and Mataatua descent).

The newly promoted assistant commissioner and police's deputy chief executive Maori, Mr Haumaha was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the New Zealand Police and Maori, Pacific and ethnic communities.

"I'm absolutely humbled by the recognition by our community leaders who I've worked with over many years and also my colleagues in the police," Mr Haumaha told the Rotorua Daily Post.

Mr Haumaha has been responsible for growing and developing Maori policy in the New Zealand Police. He has led transformational change in the culture of the organisation, responsible for building relationships between the Government and Maori organisations, and working with iwi, hapu and whanau.

"It's been very challenging at times, but it's been one of the most exciting areas of police to work in."

Mr Haumaha, who was given the Queen's Service Medal in 1996, said he had many proud moments and achievements during his career.

"I'm proud I've been able to establish three key strategic documents: the national Maori strategy [Turning of the Tide], the ethnic strategy and the Pacific strategy."

He said another proud moment was leading the 2004 foreshore and seabed hikoi with five police officers from Northland to Parliament without a single arrest.

"That was because of the close relationship we had built up with key activists over a long period of years ... That strengthened the relationship between our communities."

Mr Haumaha was also responsible for mediating and re-establishing the relationship between police and Tuhoe people after the controversial Urewera raids in 2007.

"That caused major difficulties in the community of Ruatoki ... [It] took over seven years. It was a difficult period," he said.

"The commissioner of police was able to go back there and deliver an apology to Tuhoe people which has strengthened the relationship between us. Now we work closely together."

He said as the inaugural chairman of Te Arawa Group Holdings he grew the organisation's asset holdings from $36 million to more than $100m.

"That's one of my proudest moments and achievements."

Mr Haumaha said he was planning to have a small celebration at his marae, Waiteti Marae in Ngongotaha, later this month to celebrate his promotion to assistant commissioner - but now had an extra reason to celebrate.

"It's been a great month for me," he said.

"I only intended to have a small celebration ... the celebration now has got quite large."