Auckland Central Police Base formally opened
The Police front door is now open a lot closer to central Auckland residents and visitors.
Today, the public counter at the Auckland Central Police Base on Federal Street was officially opened by acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers and Minister of Police Mark Mitchell.
It’s the first stage of an expanded presence at 210 Federal Street after it was announced late last year that Police will take on full occupancy.
“It’s fantastic to be able to open our doors with a public facing presence back in the heart of central Auckland once again,” acting Deputy Commissioner: Northern Region, Jill Rogers says.
“We know that the public feel safer when they see our staff and our buildings.
“This has been something the community have been keen to see happen, and Police have been working hard at increasing our presence in recent years.”
The public counter opened for service at the beginning of the week and replaces the previous counters at College Hill.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Rogers says Police will be able to deploy with ease across busy areas of the CBD.
This includes Te Waihorotiu Station, which is expected to be the country’s busiest train station when it opens.”
“We have seen the benefits since our Beat team moved to the site more than two years ago,” acting Deputy Commissioner Rogers says.
“For example, foot patrols are up 91 per cent in the city from July 2024 to April 2025, on the previous period.
“It’s clear to us that an expanded Police presence will make our overall 24/7 response in the city more effective.”
Construction is ongoing at the site with fit out work being completed on other floors in the building.
Auckland City District Headquarters will remain based at its current location on College Hill.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
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• Police have occupied two floors of 210 Federal Street since 2020
• Police took over full occupancy in July 2025
• The Beat Team has done 4,770 hours of foot patrolling (July 2024 – April 2025)
• More than 50 staff form part of the Beat Team
Police in Auckland’s CBD
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• 2 September 2019 – Frontline and front counter staff move to the Auckland City Hub, on College Hill.
• November 2022 – Auckland Central Beat team moves into a re-purposed floor at 210 Federal Street
• 25 November 2024 – Police announce agreement to take full occupancy of 210 Federal Street
• 14 July 2025 – the new front counter at Auckland City Police Base opens for service.
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Charities turning away high numbers of volunteer applications
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
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