Heather Roy's Diary - Domestic Security

Anyone who has been paying attention to recent news could be forgiven for assuming that it has not been a good week to work for either Housing New Zealand (HNZ) or the New Zealand Police.

It all started when, following reports of gang intimidation in the Lower Hutt suburb of Pomare, Housing New Zealand moved to evict Mongrel Mob members from one of its Pomare properties.

Along with the eviction notice, the Mongrel Mob tenants received a document listing the name and nearby address of a senior HNZ staffmember, as well as the name of the individual who had complained about the gang's behaviour.

This document - which had been attached to the eviction notice accidentally - also outlined the risks to staff and the complainant if an eviction was carried out. Following the error, the HNZ staffmember fled her home - TV3 reported she had received death threats; HNZ claimed to only have received "low-level grumblings" - and the staffmember was placed under police protection.

While this was bad enough, more was to follow. The next day it was revealed that, while investigating gang intimidation in the area, it seems police left classified information relating to the HNZ eviction in a Mongrel Mob house.

The document also detailed the investigation into the intimidation case, and the eviction of 10 members of an allegedly gang-related family from five State houses in Lower Hutt.

Even worse, the document - labelled "restricted" - contained the names and responsibilities of 50 officers working on the case, a risk assessment of the street, details of how raids would be carried out and the radio call signs police used to identify themselves. It also included details of the woman whose original complaint sparked the investigation, and details on the HNZ staffer who was under police protection.

Police Minister Judith Collins was right when she described the incident as embarrassing, and said it is important for police to take care to ensure that internal documents don't fall into the wrong hands.

The fact is that, of all Government agencies, it is police who must take the lead in the Government's core role of justice and domestic security - keeping Kiwis safe. Errors such as this detract from public confidence and make policing that much harder.

Police say they are reviewing their systems in the face of this incident. Practices are put in must be place to ensure that serious and dangerous error are never repeated. Housing New Zealand employees and police officers also have the right to safe homes and working places.

Lest We Forget - Air Commodore Alan Deere, DSO, OBE, DFC & Bar

On Wednesday March 18 I was lucky enough to witness the sky over Ohakea Airforce Base filled with the sound of the first Mk 9 Spitfire to fly in New Zealand since 1956 (blog and image available at www.roy.org.nz).

This was the long-awaited test fight of the Supermarine Spitfire MK IX PV270 - the culmination of a five-year labour of love in which engineer Brendon Deere worked to recreate the aircraft flown by his uncle Air Commodore Alan Deere during World War II.

Born in Westport in 1917 - later moving with his family to Wanganui - Alan Deere first fell in love with flying at age eight, when he saw an aircraft fly overhead and land on a nearby beach. The pilot allowed him to sit in the cockpit and Deere determined at that point to become a pilot.

Following a school career dominated by sporting success - rugby, cricket and boxing - he spent two years as a law clerk before persuading his mother to sign the under-21 application for entry into the Royal Air Force. He passed selection under Wing Commander R A Cochrane in April 1937, and sailed for England on the Rangitane in September.

Deere was granted a short service commission as acting Flying Officer in January 1938, and was promoted to Flying Officer in October 1938. He was temporarily posted to No 74 Squadron RAF, before joining No 54 Squadron RAF.

The squadron remained in England until May 1940. Having converted to Supermarine Spitfire Mk 1s at the beginning of 1940, it was tasked with home defence. Like his fellows, Deere favoured the Spitfire - which he flew during the closing phases of the Battle of France, during which he claimed his first combat victories by shooting down three Messerschmitt Bf 109s in one day.

Deere flew over Dunkirk, and took part in the Battle of Britain - during which his squadron helped defend channel shipping from Luftwaffe attacks. It was during the Battle of Britain that Deere shot down a Bf 109, but collided head on with another. The propeller blades of his Spitfire were bent backwards, the engine disabled, and much of the fin and rudder lost. Deere, however, managed to glide back to conduct a forced landing in a paddock.

The Kiwi flying ace went on to distinguish himself in numerous engagements throughout the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, the Distinguished Service Order medal, and was made member of the Order of the British Empire.