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Murupara Community wins award

Tuesday 10 May 2011, 4:52PM

By Whakatane District Council

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WHAKATANE

Work to reduce crime and improve safety in Murupara has paid off, as the Murupara Community Board wins a national best practice award.

The best community safety project was awarded at the New Zealand Community Boards Best Practice Awards held in Rotorua at the weekend.

Chair of the Murupara Community Board Jacob Te Kurapa was delighted with the win.

“It’s really great to be acknowledged for the work we’ve put in to the community and shows that the work is paying off. We share the award with the Police, as they’ve supported us with the project right from the start.”

The judging panel included Acting National Community Policing Manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths, National Community Support Manager Inspector Morris Cheer and Eastern Policing Development Manager Inspector Steve Darroch.

Judges said Murupara was selected as it, “exemplifies a Police and community partnership to address crime and reassurance issues that have troubled the Murupara community.

This partnership recognises that any response to crime and safety issues involve a wide array of stakeholders and goes further than enforcement alone. The initiatives taken by the Murupara Community Board have strengthened the community's capacity and resolve to address the issues that matter to them in a practical way.”

The award also recognised the New Zealand Police vision of creating “safer communities together”.