Superintendent Riki Whiu arrives from the Far North to lead police relationships across all three Auckland districts
A police leader known for building relationships with iwi, communities and partner agencies has been formally welcomed into a new role covering the whole of Auckland.
Superintendent Roderick “Riki” Whiu did not undersell the step up.
He likened the move from Northland to Auckland to “transitioning from playing provincial rugby to test match rugby”.
“It’s not lost on me, the challenge ahead,” Whiu said.
“So, I look forward to that challenge.”
Whiu has been appointed Director, Auckland Partnerships, joining the Tamaki Makaurau Governance Team that supports the region’s three police districts and the Auckland Deployment Group.
That takes in Counties Manukau, the district that polices Howick, Botany, Ormiston and Beachlands, alongside Auckland City and Waitemata.
In the role he is responsible for building and holding strategic partnerships across local government, the justice and social sectors, iwi, Pacific communities, ethnic communities and a wide range of other groups across the region.
His arrival was marked with a whakatau at Te Mahurehure Marae in Point Chevalier, attended by police leaders, whanau, iwi representatives, partner agencies and community leaders from both Te Tai Tokerau and Tamaki Makaurau.
Police said the occasion carried a strong sense that Northland was handing one of its own over to Auckland, with a large delegation travelling south in recognition of decades of service in the Far North, where Whiu was Area Commander.
Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers welcomed him and acknowledged the importance of the job.
“Riki arrives into a role with really big shoes to fill,” she said.
“Superintendent Scott Gemmell was the inaugural Director of Partnerships, Tamaki Makaurau. It was a new role that hadn’t existed before and Scotty has set this up in a really special way.”
Gemmell was provisionally appointed Waikato District Commander in December and has since taken up that role.
Whiu said he wanted partnerships that did more than look good on paper.
“I’m committed to making sure our partnerships are not just symbolic, that we engage meaningfully and purposefully to achieve outcomes for our people,” he said.
He said the work rested on relationships being real ones.
“Our people expect and deserve more from the partnerships that we form,” he said.
“But before that can occur, great relationships, enduring relationships and honest relationships have to be formed, and as an organisation we have to be seen to be doing the things we promise.”
Through his career Whiu has been an advocate for community-focused policing, supporting victims and strengthening relationships with iwi and community groups.
He acknowledged Acting Director Fagaesea Siaki for holding the role through the transition.
Police said the position supports the 1.7 million people who call Tamaki Makaurau home.
Whiu pledged himself to the communities he now serves.
“These shoulders, these hands, these callouses, they’re yours,” he said.
