FAKE dOPE REAl TROublE - New Zealand Police Association

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FeaturePolice and Families Credit UnionBoard and Trustees ElectionsThe Police and Families Credit Union has sevenDirectors and three Trustees. This year, two Directorand two Trustee positions will be contestable.• If you know someonewho would be keen tocontribute to the futuresuccess of the Police andFamilies Credit Union,please talk to themabout being nominated.• Directors are electedfor a two-year term andretiring directors may bere-elected. The retiringdirectors are Ian Harrisand Stu Mangnall.• Trustees are elected fora three-year term andretiring trustees may bere-elected. The retiringtrustees are SteveVaughan and MurrayDrummond.• The retiring Directorsand Trustees haveindicated their intentionto stand for re-election.• In accordance with Rule7, I call for nominationsfor two Directors andtwo Trustees.• Nomination formsare available from theReturning Officer orPolice and FamiliesCredit Union websitewww.policecu.org.nzNominations should bemarked confidential andsent to:The Returning Officer,Don Clayton, P O Box 12344, Wellington 6144All nominations are due by4pm, June 28, 2013.If you have any questionsabout the process pleasecall 0800 429 000.As a member of the Policeand Families Credit Unionyou have an importantrole to play, so why notget involved and make anomination.From page 127police manager of integrity wenegotiated a good outcomefor the member and for Police.Nothing was more satisfying forme than ringing the memberand passing on the good newsthey had been waiting over ayear for.”Dave is as committed to thework of the Association as he isto policing, he says. “I am proudof the fact that we have a strongAssociation that adds valueto the brand of New ZealandPolice.”Fellow director EmmetLynch, Region 4 (Central &Eastern districts), a detectivesergeant with Napier CIB, cameto his director role through thedistrict committee structure.He says he has found greatprofessional satisfaction fromcontributing to the performanceof the Association and, equally,personal satisfaction frommeeting the challenges of thegovernance aspects of theposition.It was also rewarding to beable to help members who“generally operate to a highstandard, but have that one-offbad day, or make a genuinemistake or error of judgmentwhile trying to function in astressful environment”.Friendly and competentadvice from the Associationoffice holders and boardmembers was invaluablewhen members were facedwith difficult employmentsituations for the first time.That went hand-in-hand withstrong, consistent and effectiveleadership, especially at boardlevel.Succession is also important,he says, and he is pleased to notethe calibre of members puttingup their hands to assist at alllevels within the Association.• Region 1: Northland & Waitakere Districts – DirectorAlan (Jug) Price, Whangaparaoa• Region 2: Auckland City & Counties ManukauDistricts – Director Dave Pizzini, Counties Manukau• Region 3: Waikato & Bay of Plenty Districts –Director Wayne Aberhart, Morrinsville• Region 4: Central & Eastern Districts – DirectorEmmet Lynch, Napier• Region 5: Wellington & PNHQ/RNZPC – DirectorCraig Tickelpenny, Royal New Zealand Police College• Region 6: Canterbury & Tasman Districts – DirectorCraig Prior, Christchurch• Region 7: Southern District – Director Brett Roberts,Dunedin.128 june 2013police news – the voice of police
View from the bottom BY CONSTABLE IAM KEENThis column is written by a frontline police officer. It does not represent the views orpolicies of the Police AssociationPCT – add ambush toinsultIn a disastrous exercise in staffrelations, someone, possibly inHR (not pointing any fingers,though), has declared a newcategory for officers needing acurrent physical competencytest (PCT). These staff are nowlabelled “non-compliant”. Thename conjures up thoughts ofwrong-doing and bad-guys;naughty people at the very least.To whoever thought upthis term, and to thosewho sanctioned or at leastdidn’t challenge it – it wasn’tclever and it doesn’t fit thecircumstances.In reality, 90 per centof folk in the so-called“non-compliant” groupare recovering from injury,operations or illness. They’regood coppers who’ve givenblood, sweat and loyalty, onlyto suddenly find they’re slappedwith a new, leper-like status.The term “non-compliant”reminds me of an incident inthe Canadian public service,when a municipal authority putup a notice over a counter usedfor paying minor infringements(parking, dog fines, etc). Thesign said “Violators QueueHere”. Ordinary citizenscoming in to pay theirpenance for minor infractions,understandably, took umbrage.I have no problem with staffhaving to be “fit for purpose”,but the way this has been doneis a brutal slam-dunk, almostby stealth, after a quarter ofa century of paying the PCTissue little more than a genteelreminder. One memberremarked that it came so swiftlyand with such force it was likethe sports coach from hell hadjust taken over the PCT coordinationrole.Since its introduction 28years ago, enforcement of thePCT has always been ad-hocand lacking co-ordinatedor consistent support fromsenior management. Whensupervisors tried to tackle theissue of staff who hadn’t donetheir PCT (sometimes for adecade or more), HR wouldsimply say the supervisor mustmanage the case accordingto the policy. But when pushcame to shove, HR would backdown and dish out a benevolentextension. The staff memberor supervisor would move onand the case was eventuallyforgotten about until the nextsupervisor raised it and HRwould decree that the processstart again.A few months ago, someoneat 180 Molesworth St suddenlygot serious; they re-wrote therules and looked to exit anysuitable target aged over 45(coincidentally at the top oftheir pay band) with a view tobig dollar savings by replacingthem with newbies.I agree the PCT issue hadto be fixed, but this has beena ruthless approach, akin tocounting 1, 2, 3, 10! I’ve yetto see any acknowledgementfrom the Castle that theissue could have been moreprogressively dealt with, andin a more humanistic manner,commencing many years agoinstead of leaving line managersto juggle what became anelephant on their lap.Very few people fail theirPCT out of laziness. The stigmaof being sent to Coventry (fornon-contact duties) underthe looming threat of medicaldisengagement, for those withgenuine medical ailments,needs to be addressed quickly,for no other reason than that’swhat a good employer woulddo.The last mention must go tothose who have been injured atwork in the execution of theirduties. No Purple Heart medalsunder this policy; no thanksfor putting your body on theline. Just a glaring mention onthe spreadsheet of those whoare PCT non-compliant, whichgets emailed to all and sundry,when personal medical issuesare supposed to be afforded anelement of privacy.See yaOur homes make getting away on holiday affordableA Police Welfare Fund Holiday Home for just $60 a night is great value.TE ANAUTe Anau has adopted various slogans over the years – Gateway toFiordland, Holiday Resort of Fiordland, Walking Capital of the World – alltrue, but its spectacular setting on the shores of New Zealand’s secondbiggestlake (after Taupo) speaks for itself. Lovely Lake Te Anau is deepand placid, bordered by virgin forest and with stunning views of theMurchison mountain range, including Mt Luxmore. Activities in and aroundthe area include:• Hiking in Fiordland National Park (access to the Milford, Kepler,Routeburn and Hollyford tracks)• Visiting Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound• Guided tramps and nature walks• Kayaking, cycling, jet boating, fishing, hunting, farm tours• Scenic lake cruises• Milford Sound coach and cruise tours, taking in Mitre Peak and theUnderwater Observatory• Helicopter rides• Fiordland Wildlife Park• Te Anau glow worm caves.The Police Association has two homes in Te Anau ($60 a night). They arevery close to the beach (about one minute’s walk away) and each has a TV,DVD player, washing machine, dryer, shower, bath, spare blankets, pillows,high chair, radio, night store heater, electric blankets on all beds, and asecure garage.There are dates available forour Te Anau homes. Check outthe availability on line at www.policeassn.or.nz/products-services.holiday-accommodation, or call uson 0800 500 122. If Te Anau doesn'tsuit, check out our homes in Turangiand Akaroa.new zealand police aSSOCIATION june 2013 129
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Page 6: News/viewsPICKING UP THE PIECESThe
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Page 11 and 12: Cover storyFrom page 121The Police
Page 13 and 14: InsurancePREMIUM INCREASESThese inc
Page 15: What your region directors doBeing
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Page 21 and 22: NotebookTraumatised by a tornadoA v
Page 23 and 24: NotebookKeen on wine by Ricky Colli
Page 25 and 26: SportBoard gamesin GisborneThe wors
Page 27: Signed letters are preferred, but i

FAKE dOPE REAl TROublE - New Zealand Police Association

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