New police station blessed

This morning's Te Arawa blessing of the new Rotorua police station.

Rotorua's new $18 million state-of-the-art police station was blessed this morning with a crowd of around 200 taking part in the dawn karakia.

Iwi, police past and present, dignitaries and families assembled outside the new three storey building on Fenton St at 5.15am. The blessing started at 5.30am with a speech from Ngati Whakaue kaumatua Pihopa Kingi.

Each floor of the building and all its rooms were blessed with a final karakia in the atrium.

"I think it's great that our first official event here is a blessing by Te Arawa, that's quite significant," said Bay of Plenty district commander Superintendent Glenn Dunbier.

"It's a really good turnout. We can see it's not just police staff but also iwi and the community, which is a good mix.

"Our staff have put up with the old police station for a very long time, in less than ideal conditions. This is a move to a community meeting place rather than being a fortress."

The blessing involved Scotty Morrison, from Ngati Whakaue. Te Ururoa Flavell, from Ngati Rangiwewehi. Mauriora Kingi, from Tuhourangi, Ngati Wahiao, Tapuika, and Tuwharetoa. Anaha Hiini, from Ngati Whakaue, Tühourangi, and Tapuika. Tukiterangi Curtis from Ngati Pikiao and Mataia Keepa from Ngati Whakaue, Tuhourangi and Tapuika.

The police station houses the area police staff as well as the Bay of Plenty police district headquarters.

The front counter is expected to be open to the public by 12pm.