Tickets, food, alcohol offered to police

AUCKLAND: A Maori cloak from one of the country’s biggest gangs, a Cartier pen from the Saudi Arabian Government and a raft of top sports tickets, alcohol and food are among the items gifted to police in the past year.

While cheeses, honey, doughnuts, chocolates, food hampers, morning teas, pounamu and a taiaha were all accepted by police, other gifts were declined.

A korowai worth $400 donated by Mongrel Mob Notorious was declined after it was offered to a gang liaison officer in the Eastern district last year.

But a $400 taiaha has been displayed in the Waikato district headquarters after it was given to a sergeant in February this year by an unnamed individual.

It is police policy that all gifts containing alcohol or worth more than $50 be recorded, and generally such gifts are to be declined.

Police commissioner Mike Bush declined box tickets to an All Blacks match, valued at $370, from Air New Zealand last September.

The Canterbury district police declined 30 NRL match tickets, valued at $600, from Walco Events Ltd on March 22 this year, and rugby tickets and hospitality, worth $275, from Crusaders Rugby weeks later.

Police staff in Wellington accepted 32 tickets donated by the Lions Club of Wellington to a magic show last year.

Staff at Wellington district, the Royal New Zealand Police College and police national headquarters attended a football game after 80 tickets were donated by the Wellington Phoenix in January this year.

Police professionalism and assurance general manager Mike Webb said the policy was akin to those in other public agencies.

‘‘It’s humbling when members of the public, and especially victims or their families, drop off small tokens of thanks for the work police staff do in the community, keeping people safe and supporting the vulnerable,’’ Mr Webb said.

‘‘It is not mandatory to report offers of most gifts of less than $50 value, but in many cases staff still choose to report such offers.’’

A Chinese embassy representative gave 25 tickets to the Terracotta Warrior exhibit at Te Papa Tongarewa, worth $500, in January this year.

These were accepted and given to charity.

Two tickets to the World of Wearable Art preview show, valued at $200, were also accepted by police.

They were given to a maritime unit supervisor by Te Papa Tongarewa last September.

Fonterra last year donated a $100 selection of cheese and chocolate to an acting sergeant in the Canterbury district which was accepted.

Two large bags of sweets, worth $20, were accepted by the criminal investigations team in February this year.

A carving from Vanuatu Police, donated on March 15, 2019, has been displayed in the Police National Headquarters, while a hamper that came along with it was shared among staff.

Offduty police officers in the Canterbury district were given beer, wine and a Lotto ticket by an unnamed individual the next day, which was declined.

A $500 Cartier pen from the Saudi Arabian Government was accepted on March 29 this year, with police making a donation to charity in recognition of the gift.

On March 23, a Hawke’s Bay mosque donated $600 of food vouchers, which was declined.

‘‘In response to the Christchurch terror attacks offers of support and thanks were overwhelming from the community and advice was offered to staff in regard to the best way to manage to offer of gifts or tokens of appreciation,’’ Mr Webb said. — NZME