Police torch relay underway after dawn ceremony   24 Jun 2016

"Police torch relay underway after dawn ceremony in Cape Reinga (video available)"

The nationwide torch relay to celebrate 75 years of women in policing has begun, with the North Island relay setting off from Cape Reinga early this morning.

A dawn pöwhiri was held to mark the occasion at 6.30am with local iwi and Northland District Commander Russell Le Prou. Mrs Vicky Bush, the wife of Police Commissioner Mike Bush, and Karen Jones, Deputy Chief Executive Public Affairs, then officially launched the relay, wearing historic Police outfits from the 1940s and 1950s.

Mrs Bush passed the illuminated torch over to women police officers from the Northland District Police, who started the first leg of the national relay.

88 year-old Myra Larcombe, who was the first female Police officer based in Northland and joined Police in 1951, walked the torch on the path from the lighthouse at Cape Reinga.

At Te Paki stream female officers from Northland took the torch on toboggans down the sand dunes.

The torch then travelled down 90 Mile Beach in a Police 4wd to Houhora, and it was then taken to Kaitaia, where it was paraded through the town.

Tomorrow morning Police officers will carry the torch in a waka from the treaty grounds at Waitangi (weather dependent), over to Russell and back.

Mrs Larcombe will also be on the waka journey.

A game of Ki O Rahi will then be played between Police and the community at Waitangi and the torch will travel to Whangarei.

In the South Island, the torch left from Bluff and will be at Riverton, Tuatapere, Winton, and Lumsden tomorrow.

The relay will culminate on August 1st when the two halves of the torch will be joined together at a national parade of retired and current policewomen and other Police staff in Wellington.

Commissioner Bush says the 75th anniversary recognises the women of the past who have forged the way for women to thrive and succeed in NZ Police today.

“Women are now an integral part of policing and I know our district-based staff are looking forward to celebrating with their communities as the relay passes through many towns and cities across the country,” he said.

ENDS

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