Porirua Railway Station's new safety officers, the Mau Te Rongo navigators. From left: Bronsin Ikurere, Faiona Willie and Reuben Baker. Photo: Supplied/ Screen grab - Porirua City Council
Safety patrols are being introduced at Porirua railway station after concerns about rising teenage violence.
The station platforms, an underpass beneath them, and the station's car parks are a busy thoroughfare for people walking between the central city and the eastern suburbs, as well as those using trains and buses. And the area has at times been a hotspot for crime.
The patrols, which begin with the new school term on Monday, involve three safety officers, the Mau Te Rongo navigators.
They will be at the station and 'highly visible' between 7am and 9am and 3:30pm to 5:30pm.
Working group member Caroline Mareko said the patrols were a response to violent incidents involving teenagers, but she said the officers were not security guards.
"Their presence at the railway station is before school and after school ... It's not about being the police, it's really about having presence and being a face for people to recognise, and also [for] people to approach if they want information or they need help or they're concerned about something."
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said the navigators will be on hand to help or just to have a chat.
It was hoped this would help both rangatahi and the wider community feel safer and more connected, and they would also offer help with loading their Snapper fare cards and reading train timetables.
"We want everyone to feel safe and welcome in Porirua, so we're happy to have been able to help pull this fantastic initiative together," Baker said.
One of the new navigators, Reuben Baker said he had grown up in Porirua, and joined the project: "To give back to my community, and to keep my community safe."
Mareko said more funding would be needed to keep the patrols operating past mid-2025.
"At the moment our navigators are funded for the next six months, so that gives our working group some time to look for further funding and resources to keep the programme going."
