The Opposition leader says he's worried Police are retrenching from rural communities. 

A planned staffing restructure could move some permanent posted rural officers move to work from 24/7 hubs in Rolleston and Rangiora. 

Officer headcount won't drop.  

Chris Hipkins told John MacDonald he's been through this in his own area, in Wellington's Upper Hutt. 

He says it means Police presence reduces.  

He says rural communities are being sold the same story it won't affect local policing but the reality is, it will. 

The Labour leader says Minister Mark Mitchell was happy to see more Policing in Auckland city, and it’s time for the Minister to walk the talk and tell the Commissioner he wants rural areas better provisioned. 

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