There’s an eye-catching new police car on the road and it’s intended to showcase the police’s “dedication and commitment” to New Zealand’s diverse communities.
The ‘community car’ was launched at Police Commissioner Andrew Coster’s Ethnic Focus Forum held at the Counties Manukau Police station on September 7.
Police say their ethnic services team has been identified as requiring a suitable vehicle in line with the Pirihimana (Māori), Va’a (Pasifika) and Rainbow (Pride) vehicles in the police diversity fleet.
The new Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle was selected for the new livery as the community engagement vehicle for ethnic services staff based in Auckland.
The car’s livery depicts the word “hello” in 75 of the more-than 170 different languages spoken by ethnic communities in New Zealand.
Police say it reflects the diversity within the force and respect for those in the community who have English as their second language.
Coster says the car will help increase trust and confidence through inclusion, consultation and recruitment.
It acknowledges the multicultural communities that live in New Zealand.
“We hope this new community car, which is a part of our police fleet, showcases our dedication and commitment to the diverse communities we serve,” Coster says.
“This car symbolises our ongoing commitment to inclusion, consultation and recruitment by valuing diversity, which is one of our core policing values as an organisation.”
This vehicle serves as a tool that will support police when its officers are engaging with ethnic communities, which is comprised of over 230 ethnicities.
By using the electric vehicle the police continue to cut down on its emissions while fulfilling carbon reduction targets, Coster says.
