Rotorua police officers dig deep to help community

by Kelly Makiha kelly.makiha@dailypost.co.nz
Why are Rotorua police officers doing the gardens?

That question was on the minds of those at Whare Aroha Home and Hospital this week as eight sworn police officers, who are part of the Traffic Alcohol Group (TAG), cut down trees, water blasted paths, cleared away overgrown shrubs and painted walls.

The two days of hard work yesterday and today was all done for charity after the TAG team donated their services to an auction at the Melbourne Cup Gala.

It is the third time the team has volunteered themselves to be "bought".

It is also the third time National Party electorate chairman Ian Patchell has "bought" the group and then donated their services back to the community.

Melbourne Cup Gala committee member Jean McGaffin said the TAG team had in the past demolished a dilapidated building to make way for new facilities at St Chad's Communications Centre as well as helped build mountainbike tracks for the world championships.

Mr Patchell, who paid $4000 for the team, said he enjoyed helping the community. "These guys [the police] have really been put down over the last two to three years ... It gives the public a more positive view of the police and shows they don't just go around giving people tickets and arresting people."

Whare Aroha safety officer Hamish McNeil said he was rapt. He had a quote from a professional company to do the work and "there wasn't much change from $7000".

Mr McNeil said the gardens were planted 25 years ago and were overgrown.

Acting Sergeant Dave Hamilton said: "This is a way of us giving something back and doing something positive."