Bigger brighter better - Police Museum reopens tomorrow

It has been a busy and exciting 7-8 months since the doors were closed in December to reinvent and reinvigorate the NZ Police Museum. One hundred years after the NZ Police Museum came into existence, the renovations signal a new and positive direction for the museum that will directly contribute to the Police vision of ‘safer communities together’.

"It is challenging, I’m really proud of the way the whole team has worked together, I’m sure people will be blown away by what we have created" says Museum Manager Kamaya Yates.

The Museum has two distinct exhibition halls, 'Noa' meaning unrestricted, and 'Tapu' sacred or under protection.

Noa showcases Community Policing with a special focus on engaging young minds. This exhibition hall is fitted out with a large floor to ceiling screen and surround sound system that will support the stories being told there.

'Tapu' contains exhibits that are related to violence and death. One of the stories told is of the 1996 shooting of Constable Warren Smith. He was shot and wounded during a simple traffic stop in Hastings. The shirt he was wearing that day is on display.

The Museum has shifted focus from being object related to having a more people and themed approach. For example the story of the ‘The Rainbow Warrior’ becomes “The public and Police combine to solve a crime against our nation”.

Tomorrow night is the official launch party with over 150 guests. The museum will be opened by Acting Commissioner Lyn Provost and the event will be attended by many Police officers including several Superintendents and National Managers. There will be many retired Police and distinguished museum representatives including the directors of the Navy Museum, MOTAT, Museum of Wellington, Pataka, The Dowse and the Acting Mayor of Porirua will be here also.

Several of historic police vehicles which are on loan to MOTAT will be there including a 1970s grey Holden Kingswood. A 'mini police station' is being transported via Brittons house moving company. This is from Hastings Police and is scheduled to arrive on Thursday

With many never seen before exhibits the Police Museum will be on the destination list of all
visitors to our region.

DETAILS:
New Zealand Police Museum
Based at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua
10-5pm Tuesday - Saturday
Admission is Free
Tour Groups Charges apply to Tours -$5 adults and $3 senior citizens and children - and other activities as advertised