Clocking off but motoring on

Wairoa’s police leader swapped a patrol car for a military vehicle when he retired this week after 42 years in the job.

After heading the Wairoa team for more than 30 years, Senior Sergeant Tony Bates is hanging up his hat for a slower pace of life - restoring military vehicles, working on DIY projects and enjoying time with his family, especially his partner Jill Bailey and his grandchildren.

Tony graduated from Trentham in 1978. His first job was in Hamilton, where as a young single police officer he was often relieving in rural stations and discovered a love of rural policing.

His love of military vehicles goes even further back. His father was the sub-manager of a garage and introduced Tony and his brothers to tinkering with vehicles from a very early age. But it was the rare military ones that piqued Tony’s interest.

After stints in Westport, Tokoroa and Kaikohe, he moved to Wairoa and that’s where he has been for the past 30 years and 3 months. Over the years his contribution has been recognised with Gold and Bronze Merit awards, and District Commander and an Area Commander commendations.

“What I've enjoyed most about rural policing is that it’s all about building relationships with your community, with the focus on prevention of crime where possible,” says Tony.

He says in a small rural community you have to have the support of the locals, including the offenders, and says even his presence often calmed heated situations.

“You also become a ‘jack of all trades’ and skilled in a wide variety of policing areas and you are often able to follow matters through from start to finish."

Tony says while he’s looking forward to having time to indulge his hobbies and tick a range of jobs off his to-do list, he’s going to miss his 20 Wairoa police staff, who have become like family over the years.

“I've had an exceptional run of good staff in the time I have been in Wairoa.”

That whānau sentiment is echoed by his workmates, who speak fondly of him.

Watchhouse Officer Beth Mogford was first employed by Tony at the age of 16, straight out of college, and after leaving to have a family was re-employed 22 years later.

“Tony has been more than our leader, he’s part of our family," says Beth. "He’s always had an open door for us at work and his home and is well respected by his staff and the community and has a great sense of humour.” 

Wairoa Police Youth Aid Officer Senior Constable Noui Whaanga says Tony has been like a parent to him in the 24 years they have worked together.

“He looks after his staff, and would never ask you to do something he wouldn’t do himself,” says Noui.

“As sad as it is to see Tony leave Wairoa Police, it’s great that he’ll now have the time to enjoy his passion for restoring military vehicles and being an on-call babysitter for his grandkids!”

Tony received his 42-year service award at a farewell at Wairoa Police Station.

And while it was an emotional day as he signed off for the last time, it was also be a time to celebrate the hard work and dedication he showed to Police on New Zealand communities over more than four decades.