Cop goes, not station

By Peter de Graaf Police are quashing rumours that the one-man police station at Kohukohu is closing for good.

Constable Jonathan Maoate will take up a new one-man posting in Kawhia on June 22, after eight years in the North Hokianga, news of his departure sparking rumours the station was closing permanently. While criticising cuts to police funding in last month’s government Budget, Northland MP Winston Peters said the North Hokianga was “not exactly holding its breath” waiting for a new constable.

Far North area commander Inspector Wendy Robilliard insisted however that the process of recruiting a successor for Constable Maoate was under way. The position had been advertised.

“We’re working on a plan to cover the area while we go through this process. We have no intention of closing down the station,” she said.

The Kohukohu police house, built about 15 years ago and understood to have problems with dampness, will be renovated meanwhile.

Constable Maoate won respect for his work ethic and ability to get on with most people in his patch. Retired Kohukohu Chief Fire Officer Bill Thomson said the brigade worked regularly with him and found him to be very competent.

“He’s been great to work with,” he said.

Other residents were impressed by his work ethic and efforts to get to know the locals, including by introducing himself, house by house and street by street, when he started the job eight years ago.

Constable Maoate said he was moving for the benefit of his family. His six children are aged 5 to 19. “I love the area, and it saddens me to go. It’s the people that make it such a special place,” he said.

While the Kohukohu station is unmanned the area will be served by police in Rawene, Kaitaia or Kaikohe. Rawene is only a few kilometres away as the crow flies but is across the Hokianga Harbour. The ferry runs hourly during the day and not at all at night. The Kaitaia station is about an hour’s drive away.