The New Zealand Police Museum has opened up a window on the past – literally.
He Matapihi o Nehe Rā is an exhibition of 19th century policing in New Zealand, housed in the former Hastings Police Station building sited alongside the main museum.
The tiny size of the building and access issues means visitors cannot actually go inside, but view the exhibits through an enlarged window.
The exhibit is bicultural and does not shy away from the role of the armed constabularies, militias and other law enforcers of the day in suppressing Māori and taking their land for the benefit of colonisers.
ribbon to cut.
The building is affectionately known as Ken’s Coop after Senior Constable Ken Tipping, who is credited with saving it. He used the building for his collection of Police memorabilia.
Police Minister Stuart Nash and Commissioner Mike Bush formally opened the exhibition last week, in front of an audience including Police veterans and members of the Friends of the Police Museum.
Commissioner Bush thanked the Friends and museum staff for their “brilliant work”.
He said it reflected policing in “different days”, giving context to Police’s recent rebuilding of relations with Tūhoe.
“There is so much history in New Zealand and it’s great to have it here where people can visit it,” he said. “It’s something we should never forget and always reflect upon so we can be a truly great organisation.”
Minister Nash joked that Police could return to stations the size of Ken’s Coop when there was no more crime.
“Even though we must look forward,” he said more seriously, “we must always remember were we came from.”
Inspector John Walker, Chair of the Friends, said paying for the development was a legacy project for the Friends as they prepared to disband after 28 years of supporting the museum, as its business model changed.
“There’s no doubt about it – the Friends have achieved what they set out to do in supporting the museum,” said John.
When Ken died in 1991 care of the building passed to Senior Constable Ron Thorne, who continued collecting memorabilia while seeking a permanent site. It was moved to the museum site in 2009.
Ron was among guests at the opening. “I think it’s marvellous,” he said. “Ken Tipping would turn in his grave with pleasure if he could see this.”
Museum Director Rowan Carroll says He Matapihi o Nehe Rā uses a lot of photographs, with artefacts representing the everyday life of the people who policed 19th century Aotearoa – “things like whistles and batons which were the precursors to today’s cellphones and Tasers.”
“A lot of people have never been exposed to New Zealand history,” she says.
“This exhibition is a really good starting point for people who don’t know a lot about our history, who will be able to get some key points about key events over that century.”