Auckland man earns long service award
Peter Cooke has worked in the same job for 49 years.
The 73-year-old is the longest serving staff member at Mount Eden's Community Corrections service in Auckland.
The probation officer has been recognised with a long service and good conduct award.
It all started in 1971 when Cooke joined the probation service after gaining his law degree at Auckland University.
The probation service "seemed a good place to start and much more exciting than being a lawyer," he said.
"(I) stayed because I still have some of the idealism left and the criminal justice system is still an exciting place to work in."
In 1971 the Probation Service, as it was known, was a division of the Department of Justice.
This changed with the establishment of the Department of Corrections in 1996.
In Auckland, there was a main office in High St with reporting centres in the suburbs, Cooke said.
"I looked after Henderson and you were at the reporting centres at night on your own.
"In addition, probation officers collected fines and reparation as part of a special condition of probation, and a cash box with a float of money accompanied us."
Cooke was the sole charge district probation officer at Kaikohe.
He recalls travelling on his own to do home visits for most of the rural caseload.
Cooke has seen many changes over the years.
People under probation orders were now much more difficult to manage and more unpredictable, he said.
Before the 2002 Sentencing Act, there was a national Parole Board for those sentenced over 7 years Imprisonment and a District Prisons Board for each prison deciding release for those serving under 7 year sentences, Cooke said.
"They also decided on back end Home Detention before Home Detention became a separate sentence. "
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.3% Yes
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15% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
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