You name it, we have probably dealt with it

Three members of the Tuakau Police team. Photo supplied  

• By Sergeant Noel Foster, Tuakau Police   

Tuakau is the southernmost police base in the Counties Manukau Police District and straddles the Auckland and Waikato local government boundaries.   

It’s a geographically huge area.  More or less, from Tuakau to Port Waikato, down the coast to Naike and across the country to Kaiaua.  It’s over a two-hour round trip just to travel around the western side of the area.   

The police team based at Tuakau consists of five staff members — two with over 25 years of police experience and three with an average of around 10 years.  

We are supported by emergency response staff from the Public Safety and Road Policing teams based at Pukekohe and the Highway Patrol officers based in Pōkeno.  Specialist support is provided by the Youth Aid team based at Pukekohe, Scene of Crime Officers based at Papakura, and the Criminal Investigation Branch, also based at Papakura.  

In addition to the emergency response jobs, the team handle a wide range of matters that require more in-depth Police investigation. You name it, we have probably dealt with it.  

Duck shooting and whitebait seasons call for a more unique policing approach, and in recent years, the Auckland Police Maritime Unit have provided watercraft and personnel to allow us to get a presence on the Waikato River and encourage water and firearms safety.  

We are very fortunate to have outstanding Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers throughout the area and an excellent Surf Lifesaving Club at Port Waikato.   

The Community Patrols in Tuakau and Pōkeno are very active, and the graffiti team work tirelessly sorting out the budding ‘Banksy’ impersonators.  

There are too many to name, but we appreciate the work of all the enthusiastic and community-spirited individuals, groups and organisations in the area who contribute to the safe community we enjoy.  

I say safe, but we can always be safer….  

Current community concerns include: 

The antics of a small number of males who, from time to time, ride off-road motorcycles recklessly around rural roads in Te Kohanga, Port Waikato and in the Tuakau CBD. Sadly, the behaviour has continued despite two fatalities and several serious injury crashes involving local young men on similar bikes.  

The antisocial driving behaviour of the boy racer brigade with their group rallies in the Tuakau, Pukekawa, Te Kohanga and Maramarua area.  

We encourage anyone witnessing these driving behaviours to report it immediately, and for friends and families of these young motorcycle riders and drivers to do anything they can to dissuade or prevent them from continuing this behaviour.  

Perhaps less publicised, but worthy of mention, are the fraud offences or scams initiated over the internet or phone.  The tactics of these offenders, who are usually based overseas, change frequently but currently include text messages alleging a police fine has not been paid and direct the recipient to a website for details of how to make the payment. Don’t be tempted to open any links or go to any websites suggested in these messages, and if in doubt in touch with Police directly.  As a rule of thumb, remember the ABCs – assume nothing, believe no one, confirm everything.  

Editor says enough, so there you have it – a Tuakau Police snapshot.  

Please utilise the 111 line for emergencies and the 105 line or 105 website for historical reports.  If you wish to speak to me, call or text on 021 191 2147.