Police Commissioner to speak at racial bias forum
Event details:
Kōrero and Karakia
5:30pm, Wednesday 17th June
St Peter’s on Willis Street, Wellington
The death of George Floyd whilst in police custody has sparked a global outpouring of anger at systemic racial bias, and is causing us to examine what this bias looks like in Aotearoa New Zealand. To facilitate this discussion, our St Peter’s on Willis whānau have teamed up with Te Pīhopatanga o te Upoko o te Ika to host a “Kōrero and Karakia” forum in which attendees will hear evidence from guest presenters, including the new Commissioner of Police, on bias in our police and criminal justice system, before reflecting and praying on ways we can end racial bias in our country.
Joining Commissioner Andrew Coster will be criminal justice advocate Tā (Sir) Kim Workman of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa and Rangitāne o Wairarapa; and ActionStation Director Laura Rapira O’Connell of Te Ātiawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Whakaue.
Rev. Charles Waldegrave, Co-Vicar of St Peter’s, tells us that one of the important reasons for the event is to understand the evidence of bias within our police and criminal justice system, to reflect and pray, and to commit to end any bias in Aotearoa New Zealand. He says “Wellington is New Zealand’s political centre and this is the time for those of us who care about the Treaty of Waitangi and equality in the police and criminal justice system to gather publicly, reflect and pray.”
The event is to be held at St Peter’s on Willis on Wednesday the 17th of June from 5:30pm, and all are welcome. It will also be live-streamed on the St Peter’s on Willis Facebook page. The prayer segment of the event will be jointly hosted by the St Peter’s team and our brothers and sisters from Te Pīhopatanga o Te Upoko o Te Ika.
