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September 2025 Edition
INSIDE
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Listening: Over 500 people turned out in Culverden to hear Canterbury police District Commander tony Hill talk about potential changes to policing in the district.
Concern over proposed rural police changes
Photo: bex Green
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says NZ Police should have heard loud and clear at two public meetings in Canterbury that rural families and businesses are deeply concerned about proposed staffing changes.
] by Kent Caddick Green said the turnout of more than 500 people at the Culverden meeting alone should ring alarm bells for Canterbury Police District Commander Tony Hill. Superintendent Hill told the meeting one of the reasons behind the proposal to reduce staff at a number of rural stations, and close the Arthur’s Pass station, was the relatively low level of crime reported from those areas.
“That’s where we’re misaligned on this,” Green said. “It was very clear from audience comments that it’s all the preventative, behindthe-scenes work done by the officers who live and work in our communities that heads off so much offending. “That sort of work isn’t always logged, but it’s extremely effective,” she said. “Our local police officers know every single detail about our community; they know the people, who their children are, who to
contact if there’s something amiss.” Green said police offered assurances over new rural liaison officer roles and roading officers, and that the Rangiora police hub is not that far away. “But those officers won’t know all that crucial work that our local officers do. “The rural people who spoke up last night with such passion made it very clear how vital they think that local police presence is for them.”
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Ben Turner | 027 530 1400 ben.turner@bayleys.co.nz WHALAN AND PARTNERS LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008