Media Release:

International Police Association 61st World Congress – Auckland, 5 Oct 2016

Over 200 police from around the world, serving and retired, will converge on Auckland next week, for the 61st International Police Association (IPA) World Congress.

Founded in 1950 by British police officer, Arthur Troop, a member of the Lincolnshire Constabulary, the International Police Association is an independent body of both serving and retired police officers with the purpose of promoting international co-operation and creating bonds of friendship.

New Zealand IPA Vice-President and Chairman of the 61st World Congress organising committee, retired Detective Inspector Ross Pinkham, says there has been great interest in the World Congress with many visiting IPA members also staying on for a Friendship Week which follows.

“We were fortunate to be successful in our bid to hold the 61st Congress in New Zealand as it is a long way for many of the members to travel,” Mr Pinkham says. “We had great support from Auckland Tourism in preparing our bid to host the Congress and while it’s been a big undertaking we’re delighted with the numbers that are attending from overseas and the opportunity to showcase our country.”

It is fitting also given New Zealand is celebrating the 50th anniversary of IPA in New Zealand this year, Mr Pinkham says. “Our fellow officers of yesteryear had the foresight to recognise that this organisation was one worth joining and with our distance from the rest of the world a lot of work went into ensuring we were admitted to IPA in 1966.

It’s great we still have some of our founding members with us today, including Member No. 1 Basil Johnson, who will be attending the Opening of the 61st World Congress.”

Mr Pinkham says membership of IPA allows members to connect with other police officers from around the world and it opens many doors that wouldn’t normally be available. “Our members are exposed to some great experiences and connections purely because of their membership of IPA that even serving police officers don’t always get the chance to experience.”

Scholarships, youth gatherings, and training seminars are also some of the opportunities afforded members and their families.

The 61st IPA World Congress opens at the Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday morning with a welcome from Auckland Mayor Len Brown and NZ Police Commissioner and NZ IPA Patron, Mike Bush. The Friendship Week which follows will see both visitors and local members travel to various locations in the central North Island including Rotorua and the Bay of Islands.

The last time New Zealand hosted an International Police Association World Congress was in 1991.

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