The agreement, signed at Otakau Marae yesterday, formalised ‘‘a commitment to work collaboratively to build stronger outcomes for Maori communities in Dunedin’’.
The document was signed by police Commissioner Andrew Coster and Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu chief executive Arihia Bennet.
According to a police statement released soon after the agreement was signed, work was under way to look at redeveloping the Dunedin Central Police Station into a ‘‘policing hub’’ to ‘‘ensure the space better served the community’’.
The statement did not provide further details of how specifically a hub might differ from the present police station.
The statement said it was hoped a revamped policing hub might build further trust and confidence within communities, by ensuring ‘‘an accessible way’’ for people to interact with police.
‘‘We want our stations to be places of manaakitanga, providing services to the community and enabling public safety — a hub that welcomes the community in and a building that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the community it serves,’’ the statement said.
Mr Coster said the partnership demonstrated the strength of the relationship between police and Maori, particularly in Otakou.
Ms Bennett said Ngai Tahu and the police already shared an important relationship, which the partnering agreement built on in a proactive and practical way.
“We welcome this partnership as a formalisation of our shared values.’’
Ngai Tahu would engage closely with police to provide solutions to infrastructure needs, so police stations could connect more deeply and in more meaningful ways with all communities, she said.
