Ninety-six recruits graduate as probationary constables from The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 11 December 2003, 2:00pm.
They are among 582 new police officers to hit the streets this year, 329 of them in Auckland. In 2002 Police trained 503 new officers of which 201 were posted to Auckland.
Tomorrow’s new probationary constables will be policing around the country before Christmas.
National Manager: Training and Professional Development, Superintendent Alistair (Olly) Beckett, says the Royal New Zealand Police College has trained a large number of new officers this year at the same time as building professional capability in the Police service through specialist training.
"We’ve put some special initiatives in place this year to help resource the growing Auckland area. A wing of 74 former UK police officers came through the College on conversion training. Another 45 officers have graduated from recruit training having been selected after a pilot Police Trainee Programme which targeted 17 to 21-year-olds interested in a police career."
Among the recruits graduating tomorrow is one cadet officer from Tonga. She has trained with Wing 215 under a special agreement between NZ Police and Tongan Police. She will return to work in the Tongan Police forensic accounting unit.
• 96 recruits will graduate -- 75 males and 21 females
• 40 recruits will be posted to Auckland districts
• 24 recruits will be posted to the Wellington region
• 21 recruits will be posted to other North Island stations
• 10 recruits will be posted to the South Island
• 1 recruit will return to the Tongan Police service
Wing 215 is the largest recruit wing to graduate since 1998, when 112 probationary constables graduated as part of Wing 176.
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To attend graduation, please RSVP by Thursday 10 December 2003, 10:00am:
Toni Barlow, Communications Adviser
(04) 238 3413 / 0274 419 216
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Wing 215 prize winners:
• Minister’s Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Vaughan HIBBERT, posted to Henderson.
• Commissioner’s Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Nicola ROBINSON, posted to Henderson.
• Patron’s Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Ivan SPENCE, posted to Porirua.
• Physical Education Trophy was awarded to Constable Nicholas BANKS, posted to Upper Hutt.
• Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Bernard INNES, posted to Christchurch.
• Prater Memorial Practical Trophy was awarded to Constable Andrew KARSTEN, posted to Takapuna.
• International Police Association Prize for Driver Training was awarded to Constable Wayne SECKER, posted to Whakatane.
• Ericsson Communications I&T Prize for File Preparation was awarded to Constable Nicholas BANKS, posted to Upper Hutt.
• Jesson Forensics Prize for Fingerprint Techniques was awarded to Constable Kelvin DOLBEL, posted to Napier.
Police Association Prizes for Sectional Achievement:
This prize is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.
Section One - Constable Owen ARAPAI, posted to Auckland City.
Section Two - Constable Andrew KARSTEN, posted to Takapuna.
Section Three - Constable Christopher MANN, posted to Henderson.
Section Four - Constable Stefan PREDDY, posted to Paraparaumu.
Section Five - Constable Chantelle JACKSON, posted to Henderson.
Wing Patron: Judge A’e’au Semi Epati
Judge A'e'au Semi Epati was appointed a District Court Judge of New Zealand in 2002. "A’e’au" is a Samoan High Chief title from Falealupo, Savai’i. He is the first Samoan or Pacific Island person to be appointed to the New Zealand judiciary.
Judge Epati was born in Samoa and came to New Zealand on a scholarship, studying law at Otago University. He has worked as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand and Samoa, which has included setting up his own practices. He presides over jury trials and both general and youth court cases. He has a deep commitment to his community and brings to the Bench both a detailed knowledge of law and a deep understanding of Pacific cultures. He is fluent in Samoan, Tokelauan and Tuvaluan, and understands Niuean and Tongan. Judge Epati has become a powerful role model in Pacific and legal communities.
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For more information, please contact:
Toni Barlow, Communications Adviser, (04) 238 3413 / 0274 419 216