The District Commander for North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police, Superintendent Rickard, announced today that the district will now be known as Waitematā Police District.
"The name North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney and Auckland Metro Road Policing had simply become unworkable. Often people referred to us as "the Shore" which didn't really reflect the total make-up of the district," said Superintendent Rickard.
Waitematā simply means the waters of "Mataa". Legend has it that Tamatekapua, a Maori chief of the Te Arawa waka placed a sacred rock (Te Mataa) in the harbour. There is a secondary meaning which talks about the "Mataa" and the fact it glistens off the water. When you look into the water you can see a "reflection of yourself" or you can "see the vision".
Superintendent Rickard said the name Waitematā was arrived at with input from the Commissioner of Police and local council and iwi representatives.
"The District's Senior Leadership Group agreed that "Waitematā" would be an excellent name for our District and that it would reflect our desire to consistently look towards the future. We also noted that this District's Health Board covers a similar area and is also simply referred to as "Waitematā Health".
"We take pride in our new District name and will continue to work in order to reduce the victims of crime and crashes in the Waitematā Police District", said Superintendent Rickard.
Viv RickardSuperintendentWaitematā District Commander