In 1957 it was decided that New Plymouth needed a new police station. It was to be a reinforced concrete building built at a cost of £75,000 - a standard design being introduced for several other stations.
After several delays the new station on Powderham Street finally opened in 1962.
The police had occupied their previous premises in Robe Street for 55 years. It was sold in April 1960 for £106 to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who later demolished the building and sold the timber to raise church funds. While the new station was being built the police were housed in a former boarding house next to the old station.
In 1974 a house on Vivian Street, behind the police station, was demolished to allow for expansion. (Taranaki Herald 2 November 1974)
Nearly fifty years on and the police again needed new premises. An announcement was made in late 2010 by Police Minister, Judith Collins, that the present station would be demolished and a new building erected within two years.
In January 2012 the police moved to temporary premises in St Aubyn Street while the new police station was built.
Related documents:
New city police station next year (Taranaki Herald 25 May 1957)
Work on new police station project soon (Taranaki Herald 25 Feb 1960)
New Police Station (Daily News 25 February 1960)
Police station comes out of its steel shell (Taranaki Herald 22 March 1962)
Police Station Approaching Completion (New Plymouth Photo News #72, 14 April 1962)
New Police Station Opened (New Plymouth Photo News #77 1 September 1962)
Police to move while station built (North Taranaki Midweek 21 December 2011)
Police on the move (Taranaki Daily News 18 January 2012)
Police enjoy working at temporary site (Taranaki Daily News 6 March 2012)
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