“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” – Theodore Roosevelt.

Last month, we held our local public meeting on crime in Northcote, joined by Police Minister Mark Mitchell. The turnout was fantastic, with over 200 residents attending to share their concerns, ask questions, and hear directly from those working to keep our communities safe.

We were also joined by senior police leadership, including the area commander and district commander for the Waitematā area, who provided valuable insights into local policing efforts and challenges.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who came along and contributed. Your feedback and questions were thoughtful, passionate, and wide-ranging. They covered both national and local issues – from the use of emergency numbers 111 and 105, police response times, sentencing policies, and the purpose of military-style academies, to more localised concerns like CCTV coverage areas, anti-social behaviour in Birkenhead village, and retail crime in Highbury and Beach Haven.

We heard from business owners, youth advocates, long-time residents, and even frontline police officers. Many raised concerns about the need for stronger sentencing, and the importance of community police presence. Others asked about how we can better support young offenders and integrate public and private CCTV systems to improve safety.

As a next step, I’ll be following up on specific matters raised during the meeting. I’m also launching the Northcote Crime Taskforce, which will bring together local police, business association leaders, and other key stakeholders to track local crime statistics and monitor progress. This taskforce will help ensure we’re not just talking about crime, but taking real action.

We are beginning to see results across wider Auckland, but we know there’s still much more to do. Everyone has a role to play in making our communities safer, from our police to residents and local businesses.

Thank you again for your ongoing engagement and support. Together, we can build a safer, stronger community.

See you out in our community sometime soon!