- By Parmjeet Parmar, Pakuranga-based ACT List MP
I’m always glad to see police visible in Pakuranga.
But I understand for families and businesses impacted by crime, a more consistent and better-resourced police presence would be welcome.
With the Government focused on boosting police recruitment to increase safety, we need to ensure Kiwis from a range of backgrounds and faiths feel welcome in the recruitment process.
I’ve learned of one small way the police could improve in this area.
Royal New Zealand Police College graduates are only permitted to take their oaths on the Bible, or to use the standard Constable’s Affirmation.
Swearing the oath on a religious text has a value for wider society, as it has the potential to increase the power of the oath in the conscience of the graduate.
I’ve been told of instances where graduates wished to take their oath on a religious text other than the Bible but were instructed to take the standard Constable’s Affirmation instead.
This doesn’t reflect modern New Zealand’s multicultural reality.
To address this, I’ve drafted legislation to extend the range of religious texts available for oath-taking to include the Bible, Gita, Gutka Sahib, Quran, and others.
I’ve also reached out to the Police Minister, urging the Government to adopt this proposal to avoid the delays of the member’s ballot process.
This change, though seemingly minor, is relevant as the Government seeks to bolster police recruitment, including with the change to allow applicants with a residence visa to start the recruitment process.
By allowing graduates to swear on a religious text that resonates with their faith, we avoid a potentially unwelcoming or biased message for potential recruits.
This initiative is about upholding the principles of religious freedom, choice, and pluralism in our multi-ethnic democracy.
It’s about recognising and respecting the diverse beliefs of our police and ensuring they feel welcomed from the beginning of their service.
I hope the minister will consider this simple proposal seriously and act swiftly to implement it.
Our police do great work and I’d like to see Kiwis of all faiths welcomed and included as we seek to boost police resources and keep communities such as Pakuranga safe.
