Meet the New Magazine Editor
Hello, my name is Ken Brewer and as many of you will not have heard of me before, please allow me introduce myself and explain exactly how I came to hold the position of editor of your magazine.
I was born in Devonshire and adopted New Zealand as my home when I immigrated here with my family in 1973. My background
was the motor trade and I joined the New Zealand Police on 22 October 1974, serving 21 years in South Auckland based at Otahuhu and the Airport. I joined the IPA in April 1989 with the membership number of NZ 1876.
In 1982 I volunteered to assist in researching and writing the history of the Auckland Police, resulting in the book Without Fear Or Favour being released in 1990. From that research I wrote and self published the history of the Waiuku Police Station and then that of the Otahuhu Police in a book named Badge Of Honour. I have also written the histories of the Tuakau and the Papakura Police, but they remain as yet unpublished.
I am a founder member of the Friends of the New Zealand Police Museum and in 1990 became the Honorary Badge and Insignia Curator to that museum. Stemming from that role I wrote an illustrated record of New Zealand Police badges, uniforms and insignia used from 1840. This was purchased outright by the NZ Police in 2004 with the intention of making it available on their official website. It’s been a long wait.
I left the police in 1995 and began an interesting career in the surveillance unit at Auckland’s casino where, in addition to learning how to play the games I also had to learn how to cheat! In 2000 I became a Casino Inspector with the Department of Internal Affairs and still hold that position today in the renamed role of Gambling Inspector.
In 2006 I became a Justice of the Peace, an honour which permits me to give something back to a country to which I owe so much.
In late May 2008 just prior to my taking a trip overseas, our President Stan Keith first approached me to take up the role of editor of this magazine and upon my return in July, I accepted.
I am not a scholar, nor am I a skilled journalist, merely an enthusiastic amateur who will endeavour to do my best. In the interim I ask for your patience and with your help I will strive to keep this magazine alive as a flagship of the New Zealand Section.
Please remember this is your magazine and membership input is not only valued, it is essential. I may not get everything I receive into print, but I will try my utmost to do so. Please feel free to contact me with your ideas, suggestions, comment and of course your valued contributions.
Because of my police history experience I have been encouraged to include an article in each edition, with the first appearing herein. I hope you find it of interest and not too boring.
I cannot close without acknowledging our contributors for their support, plus President Stan Keith and Secretary General Coleen Meyers for their patience and trust. Also much of the credit for the impressive magazine you now hold in your hands must go to Steve Lovell and his team at Rainbow Digital in Porirua. My personal thanks to you all.
With Christmas just a few weeks away, I extend season’s greetings to everyone and I look forward to continue being of some service to the Association and to you its membership.
Best wishes.
Ken Brewer
Editor
