Police have their 'pay' day in the sun

DEDICATED: Police lining up in the Wairarapa Pay Parade held in Queen Elizabeth Park.

Wairarapa police were praised for their efforts during the Carterton balloon tragedy at the annual Wairarapa Police Pay Parade held in Queen Elizabeth Park yesterday.

The parade is held to recognise the efforts of staff throughout the year. Certificates and letters of appreciation for operation Enoka - the police codename for the 2012 Carterton balloon tragedy - for work during the Christchurch earthquake and for long service and good conduct, among others, were given out.

Kaumatua Mike Kawana and police chaplin David Cole opened the ceremony with a blessing and a prayer.

Wairarapa area commander inspector Brent Register said the day was about celebrating the successes police had had throughout the year and looking forward to more challenges in the coming year.

He said police had increased preventative tasks by 44 per cent by getting out into the community, being visible and preventing crime.

"We have witnessed another decrease in crime of 8 per cent this year. That equates to 488 less victims in the community," Mr Register said. "We could not achieve such great results that keep our community safe without you.

"Take time today to pat yourselves on the back, pat your friends on the back and hold your heads high because you deserve to."

Mr Register said the Carterton balloon tragedy had a huge impact on the Wairarapa community but also had an impact on the Wairarapa police.

He said historically the parade was held every two weeks to inspect officers uniforms and determine whether they were tidy enough to receive their pay. "That's why it's called a pay parade, we bring that history back every year."