A major rebuild at Stanmore Bay will breathe new life into one of the Police Welfare Fund’s most popular properties, with work set to begin on new homes once the necessary red tape has been dealt with.

The front building, originally converted from a convention centre into beachfront holiday homes in 2000, has now reached the end of its structural life. Cladding and weather-tightness issues, uncovered in a recent comprehensive review, mean it's time for a full replacement.

“In May, the Police Welfare Fund (PWF) board approved investing close to $4 million to demolish the existing building and rebuild with a new, modern design,” says Police Association chief operating officer Bryan McConnell. 

“The new superior homes will be purpose-built for our members – comfortable, safe and making the most of the highly prized beachfront setting.”

To fund the rebuild without placing additional strain on member contributions or broader Police Association reserves, the PWF board has also signalled it will likely subdivide and sell part of the rear section of the site, land that currently houses units 6 to 9, the old caretaker’s home and ablution block. However, units 6 to 9 will remain open for members to stay until the new rebuild is completed.

“These rear units are themselves nearing end of life,” Bryan says. “Unlocking value from that land allows us to retain and enhance the most desirable part of the property for members – right on the beach.”

This latest project continues a long and proud history of providing rest and recreation for Police staff and their families at Stanmore Bay. 

Originally built in 1987 using $3 million raised through public donations including a national lottery and a $250,000 grant from the Auckland Harbour Board, the site was conceived as a centennial gift to Police to mark 100 years of service.

The original Police Centennial Trust complex featured eight chalets and a recreation hall. 

The driving force behind the project, local government leader Alan Brewster, died in 1993. According to the NZ Herald, his committee’s advertisements upset Police recruiters with an emotional pitch to donors. They read: “If you had a job where people regularly assaulted you, your holidays were usually cancelled, you were forced to work any time of the day or night, your family was ostracised and no-one wanted to see you unless they needed you, sometimes you'd need a bit of a rest.”

In the mid-1990s, the PWF assumed day-to-day administration, and in 2000, converted the hall into five beachfront apartments. That project was made possible by subdividing and selling off part of the road-facing land. The displaced chalets were relocated as Police Holiday Homes in Whangamatā and Ōhope.

In December 2000, then-Police Association president Greg O’Connor officially opened the new units, calling it a practical reinvestment that honoured the original intent of the Centennial Trust: giving frontline staff and their families a place to recover and recharge.

Bryan agrees. “We are committed to retaining the Stanmore Bay site and ensuring it keeps serving our members well into the future.”