New Zealand Police have launched a specially designed one-of-a-kind Rainbow police car for this year’s Pride Parade and the associated Pride festival week events.

The Rainbow car has been created to mark NZ Police’s commitment to diversity and to acknowledge the important relationship between Police and New Zealand’s Rainbow community.

Police Commissioner Mike Bush says the Rainbow car is a visible representation of the Police value of diversity.

“As an organisation we look to encourage staff to ‘use who they are’ not ‘lose who they are’ when becoming a police officer.”

“Therefore it’s important to encourage staff to show pride in the communities they represent,” he says.

“We are a diverse organisation and I am proud of the work we’ve done over recent years to build relationships with the LGBTIQ+ community.

“I also encourage members of the LGBTIQ+ community to join us as future Police recruits as part of our current recruitment drive,” says Mr Bush.

Uniformed Police staff will accompany the Rainbow car at the Pride Parade on 17th February 2018.

NZ Police Commissioner Mike Bush will also march in the parade, along with four members of the Police Executive, Deputy Commissioner National Operations, Mike Clement, Deputy Commissioner Resources, Audrey Sonerson, Deputy Chief Executive People, Kaye Ryan and Deputy Chief Executive Public Affairs, Karen Jones.

The Rainbow car follows Police’s Te Reo Pirihimana car, which was designed to support Maori Language Week.

The Rainbow car isn’t a permanent addition to the Police fleet, as the livery is removable. The car will be returned to circulation with standard Police livery after the Auckland and Wellington Pride Parades.

NOTE: For a full size copy of the Rainbow car image please contact the Police Media Centre media@police.govt.nz

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

