A blue light branch covering Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago will be formed at the first international conference held near the resort in the organisation's 26-year history this week.
The non-profit, youth-orientated charity works in partnership with police and community groups and will officially register Central Lakes Blue Light as its 64th national branch.
Cromwell constable Jacqui Lambeth, who was appointed Central Otago youth aid officer in February, will also become branch chairwoman.
Blue Light national manager Brendon Crompton said Const Lambeth would look at Blue Light youth programmes available and determine what was needed. The first Blue Light conference in the South Island for about five years will begin at the Coronet Peak Hotel on Thursday and run to Saturday.
More than 150 delegates from the New Zealand, Australian and Cook Island police forces, Child Youth and Family and truancy officers, Safer Community Council representatives and members of Rotary and Lions clubs would gather to discuss "the best practices in delivering proactive youth programmes", Mr Crompton said.
Police Commissioner Howard Broad and Principal Youth Court Judge Andrew Becroft, who are patrons of Blue Light, will speak, as will Police Minister Judith Collins.
Co-patron Graeme Sinclair leads popular Blue Light fishing programmes for youth in 10 different locations each year.
He will talk about the importance of quality time with parents.
