Safety Hub Initiative
Chris Lawton, Chair, Community Patrols NZ and Viv Beck, Heart of the City Chief Executive
Update: After we trialled a pop-up Safety Hub at Queen’s Wharf in partnership with Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) during the FIFA Women’s World Cup (media release below) it has been confirmed that this hub will stay with more hubs on their way. Operating Hours and Days of the Safety Hub are to be confirmed. Read the media release from The Beehive here.
The hubs are a great addition to the safety response in the city centre – but we still maintain the need for more police and the return of a downtown police station.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Safety Hub is popping up in the heart of the city during July and August to help support city centre safety.
Running between 20 July and 20 August, the Safety Hub is timed to be in place when more people are expected to be in the city centre due to a packed events calendar, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.
The Hub, located at Queen’s Wharf in downtown Auckland, will have Community Patrols NZ (CPNZ) volunteers on duty, and is place people can go to if they need support – it could be a simple need such as charging a phone, help connecting with emergency services, or some guidance around getting home. CPNZ patrols in the area will also be coordinated from the Safety Hub.
It will operate from 6 pm, over a number of nights from 20 July through until 20 August.
The Safety Hub is an initiative between us and CPNZ.
Viv Beck, our Chief Executive says that “A safe city centre is important for everyone. We have been advocating for a stronger police presence and a downtown police station for some time and continue to work with Police, Auckland Council and others at a local level to support safety. Having Community Patrols operating in the city centre during this time is a welcome addition to the safety network in place.”
Chris Lawton, Chair, Community Patrols NZ says that “We are really pleased to be able to bring our patrols into downtown Auckland, particularly at a time when more international visitors are expected to be here. We pride ourselves on building safer communities in partnership with others and it is great to be able to collaborate with Heart of the City on this initiative.”
