Well, what a month of weather. Just when you thought the Auckland floods were bad, a cyclone doubles down on the destruction. It was an honour to be able to assist the Hawke’s Bay team with the response and the devastation really had to be seen to be believed.

The stories of survival and bravery, many acts involving Police staff, are jaw-dropping and I hope they get told beyond the coffee conversations I have been having. The good point out of this is how proud I am to see how police responded to the needs of their communities and how those communities responded to each other. It’s easy in police to forget that just about all New Zealanders are good people who will help a stranger, and times like this demonstrate that in spades.

I see the association has put out a pay round survey. It will be interesting to see what the majority are thinking as times are certainly tough. There have been some big settlements out there in the non-police world, albeit, I have been told the devil is in the detail, and they are not as clear as might have been portrayed.

For my 2 cents’ worth, a pay increase is one thing but the disparity in what people are paid is the real issue – people getting paid a difference of 20 to 30 grand for doing the same job is wrong and some of the non-sworn roles are paid peanuts for what they have to put up with.

I know what it feels like to be a bit worn down and tired and plenty of North Islanders will be feeling this, but I hear the tyres on our Skodas are having the same problem.

Don’t want to be alarmist without the facts but apparently the tyres are wearing out quicker than normal. The message here is check your patrol car tyres before you drive out of the yard. Speaking from (unfortunate) experience, the fuel gauge is always worth a double take as well.

This column is written by a frontline police member. It does not represent the views or policies of the Police Association.