New officer in charge
Sergeant Melanie Humphries has been welcomed to the CHB community as the new officer in charge of Waipukurau Police Station.
Sgt Humphries says she was “humbled and moved” by the warm welcome at a community po¯ whiri on her first day in her new role — Monday October 8.
Originally from Waimarama, Nga¯ ti Kahungungu on her mother’s side and Nga¯ ti Tu¯ wharetoa on her father’s side, Sgt Humphries joined New Zealand Police in 2003, and was first deployed in Hamilton where her passion for helping people gravitated her toward community policing roles.
Since then she has worked as Iwi Liaison Officer in Hamilton and Hawke’s Bay and in 2016 was appointed to Wairoa as the Public Safety Team’s Sergeant. Wairoa was a great place to live and work, Sgt Humphries says.
“But as much as I loved Wairoa, I wanted to move back to Central Hawke’s Bay to be closer to family. I enjoy smaller communities for the opportunity to work closer with people to find solutions from within the community. I was astonished at how many individuals and organisations attended the po¯ whiri. I met so many people and it has opened many doors for me already.
“I have walked the main streets with our community Constable Glyn Sharp, I have met with the Community Patrol and Safer CHB and touched base with Te Taiwhenua O Heretaunga. This is such a friendly community — people keep coming up and introducing themselves. It’s great.”
Sgt Humphries says she is very community oriented and believes in community engagement and a collaborative approach.
“It’s huge what we can do, working together.”
She and her husband are looking to buy a home in Waipukurau.
“I feel it’s important to be part of the community I work in. It’s a privilege to come an work in this community and my door is always open, ” she says. “I am approachable, I love getting out there and I would encourage people to come up to me and introduce themselves.”