Every district will soon have a Maori Responsiveness Manager to lead police work with iwi.

Inspector Anaru Pewhairangi is the Bay of Plenty representative.

The MRM position has been created to provide leadership in turning police strategies such as The Turning of the Tide into action.

So far nine have been appointed, with positions yet to be filled in Eastern, Tasman and Canterbury.

MRMs hold a senior management role at District Leadership level.

They report to district commanders but also have a reporting responsibility to the Deputy Chief Executive Maori and the Maori, Pacific and Ethnic Services office at PNHQ.

They will provide line management of iwi liaison officers, and in some cases ethnic and Pacific liaison officers, in consultation with MPES to ensure district activity aligns with national priorities.

Superintendent Wally Haumaha, DCE Maori, says MRMs must be operational and strategic leaders, ensuring prevention, investigation and response activities have a specific focus on reducing Maori offending and victimisation.

'Improving outcomes for Maori ultimately improves outcomes for the organisation and country in general because Maori are so overrepresented in the criminal justice system.

'As well as the ability to influence internal practice, a key to the success of the role is an ability to build and sustain partnerships with Maori leaders, elders, service providers, Maori Wardens and members of Police Maori Advisory Boards.”

Wally is delighted with the quality of applicants for the positions, with those appointed coming from diverse policing backgrounds such as CIB, iwi liaison, area commander and national strategy positions.

'The position requires them to know absolutely the business of policing,” he says. 'These are very good, experienced cops with a great understanding of both the strategic and operational side of our work.”

The development of the MRM position has been a priority for Commissioner Mike Bush.

Information: Police Ten One Magazine.