Police HQ may shift from Wanganui to Palmerston North

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 672, 4 February 1997, Page 8

Police HQ may shift from Wanganui to Palmerston North

Waimarino may have its police headquarters shifted under plans to merge the district with Palmerston North. The enlarged district is expected to come into being from 1 July but it is not.known what effect the merger will have on staff numbers in the district or in Wanganui city. Palmerston North District Commander, Superintendent Mark Lammas, last week ruled out any redundancies or forced transfers of staff. Any changes would be introduced gradually, he said. "The police executive is meeting in mid-February when it is expected that they will approve the merger." "Certainly if it does proceed there will be changes but these may take a year or more to implement because we are dealing with people who for one reason or another may be settled where they are." The Wanganui police district encompasses Taihape, Ohakune, Raetihi, Waiouru, Hunterville, Marton, Patea, Waverley and Wanganui. Mr Lammas said no decision had been made on where the district headquarters would be but that it was likely to be in Palmerston North. Palmerston North is also being considered, along with Wellington, as the headquarters. for an enlarged new police region which would take in Wellington, ManawatuWanganui and Taranaki.