Commissioner of the Queensland Police Service (QPS), Katarina Carroll took part in a multicultural ceremony at the QPS Academy in Oxley last Thursday (26 August).
The QPS said the event involved a ceremonial cloak, or Korowai, bestowed upon a new QPS custodian, amid traditional ceremonies uniting police with local Māori and First Nations community representatives.
It said that, during the ceremony, the cloak was draped around the shoulders of Commissioner Carroll, who spoke of her honour in presiding over the Korowai custodianship ceremony.
“I am humbled and honoured to wear this Korowai, named Awhimai, as a symbol of the opportunity police have to unite members of the community from all cultures,” Commissioner Carroll said.
“While I am not from a Māori background myself, the fact that Queensland’s Māori community entrusts this cloak to the QPS to be used in celebration and commemoration of their culture is a touching symbol of unity and friendship,” she said.
The QPS said the ceremony merged traditions from both First Nations and Māori culture, including an acknowledgement of Country, traditional First Nations dances, a Māori pōwhiri welcoming ceremony and a wero challenge ceremony and haka.
It said two feathered cloaks were first presented to the QPS in 2012, with Māori officer and Senior Constable, Brenda Lee as their kaitiaki, or custodian.
The QPs said the cloaks were given to Senior Constable Lee on behalf of the QPS to acknowledge the understanding and partnership between the Queensland Māori community and the QPS.
It said the Korowai was considered by Māori people to be a living treasure and may be worn at significant events by Māori and non-Māori people alike.
