Visit to the Police Headquarters

On the 23rd of October, Fo Guang Shan New Zealand North and South Island Venerables and Buddha's Light International Association New Zealand Committee members visited the Police Headquarters in Wellington. The visit was arranged by Mr Kefeng Chu, Strategic Advisor for New Zealand Police. The 12 New Zealand BLIA members and Venerables were welcomed by the superintendent of the Police Headquarters, Wallace Haumaha, who also showed them around the complex.

At the Police Headquarters, Superintendent Wallace Haumaha, Superintendent Gill Gibson, Mr Kefeng Chu, along with other members and volunteers of the Police Headquarters had a meeting with the Venerables and BLIA members about the security in New Zealand.

During the round table meeting, staff of the police headquarters showed their concern for the nation’s crime rates, and shared their ideas on how to reduce the crime rates. One of the ideas was to encourage all the associations to collaborate to reduce crime rates.

FGS New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin expressed that BLIA North Island have already joined the Auckland Community Patrol to help reduce crime rates. Both the police staff and temple staff discussed about Asian immigrated youths, and how Western culture and Asian culture differed.

The BLIA members also shared their thoughts on how things could be improved, and voiced their concerns for the youths’ behavior and safety. After the meeting, the Police Headquarters staff exchanged gifts with the Venerables and BLIA members, where Venerable Abbess Manshin presented them ‘80 Years of Star and Cloud’, ‘Illustrated World Buddhist Arts’ , as well as other works by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The meeting concluded successfully.

Account by Fan-Ping Chiang and Sheng-Han Lim