Sergeant Mel Hinga has been appointed as national co-ordinator family harm partnerships.
She has started work in the police national headquarters (PNHQ) position, and began with some big ideas and a fair bit of travel.
"PNHQ will effectively be my home station but as a national resource I will go wherever I am needed to support family harm multi-agency partners across the motu," she said.
"I will travel throughout the country regularly and work closely with the team at PNHQ. However, with remote working capability I have the opportunity of work back home in Invercargill.
"My first week has been jam-packed with multiple hui and a site visit to Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke, in Tairāwhiti."
Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke is a national framework where police, iwi and qualified counsellors work in partnership to attend to and reduce family harm.
Sgt Hinga said her five-month development opportunity as the director Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke ki Murihiku, in Southland, gave her the confidence to apply for the national role, but the enjoyment and satisfaction she found at Whāngaia played a big part in pushing further.
"I absolutely loved the ethos and culture of a multi-agency partnership and approach to family harm. Being able to work with and alongside partner agencies collaborating on ideas with a holistic approach and a te ao Māori lens is an environment I thrived in."
Sgt Hinga will be supporting police districts around New Zealand in their efforts to partner with other stakeholders.
"Being able to work in space that relies on enduring relationships is ground-breaking for police and an exciting space to work in. A relationship that is genuine, ongoing and reciprocal with communities, before and beyond tactical engagement, is something I want to be able to support our people through."
She would be in the national role for 12 months, and was looking forward to it.
"Being able to support our directors into a space of trust with partner agencies and iwi is something I am excited to be a part of."
