On track to 600 - police graduation today

Seventy-seven new constables will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College in Wing 268, Thursday 18 August. Their wing patron is Simon Murdoch, CNZM, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand High Commissioner to Canberra. Numbers tracking well With a further three 80-strong recruit wings due to graduate before the end of this year, the graduation of Wing 268 puts police firmly on track to have an additional 600 uniformed officers on the streets by December 2011. In the past two years, police have been looking to attract high quality young people to the career. Recruitment marketing manager, Campbell Moore, has focussed marketing efforts to reflect priorities to recruit young female recruits and recruits with an understanding of different cultures and languages. Campbell says this helps to energise the workforce and allows us to better respond to the needs of all New Zealanders. "It's great to see new police officers coming out at the other end of 19 weeks training with smiles on their faces and an unabated passion to help their communities,' Campbell said. Photo: Constable Kelly Hindle front and centre of the seventy seven new constables about to hit the beat. Members of Wing 268 have been posted to stations throughout the country. They will be posted to: Southern: Invercargill (1), Dunedin (1), Oamaru (1) Canterbury: Christchurch (3) Tasman: Greymouth (1), Blenheim (1) Wellington: Lower Hutt (4), Wellington Central (4), Upper Hutt (2), Kapiti-Mana (2) Central: Palmerston North (3), Wanganui (2), New Plymouth (2), Taumarunui (1), Feilding (1) Eastern: Gisborne (1), Napier (3) Bay of Plenty: Whakatane (1), Rotorua (1), Tokoroa (1), Tauranga (2), Taupo (1) Waikato: Huntly (2), Hamilton (3) Auckland City: Auckland Central (5), Avondale (5), Glen Innes (1) Mt Wellington (5) Counties-Manukau: Otahuhu (4), Howick (1), Pukekohe (1), Papakura (1) Manurewa (1) Waitemata: Henderson (4), North Shore (2) Northland: Kaikohe (1) Kerikeri (1), Dargaville (1) Wing 268 prize winners: • Minister's Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Kelly Hindle, posted to Napier. Constable Hindle was also awarded the Ericsson Practical Prize for the overall winner for practical assessments, skills files & forensic fingerprinting. • Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Kurt Davison, posted to Christchurch. Constable Davison was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize (overall winner for Academic Exams 1, 2 & 3) • Patron's Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Melanie Robertson, posted to Invercargill. • The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award and the Holden Tactical Skills & Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms & driving) and was awarded to Constable Brendon O'Byrne, posted to Hamilton. • The Intergraph Computer Skills Prize (overall winner in computer studies) and the Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Peter Subritzky, posted to Upper Hutt. • The Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Matthew Crossan, posted to Hamilton. Police Association Prizes for Section 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 Timothy Alexander, posted to Hamilton • Section Two - Constable Kylie-Anne Kennett, posted to Auckland Central • Section Three - Constable Regan Potts, posted to Tokoroa • Section Four - Constable Andred Saker, posted to Lower Hutt. Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Rd, Porirua, on Thursday 18 August at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Honourable Judith Collins, Minister of Police. Simon Murdoch, CNZM, Patron of Wing 268 Simon Murdoch, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade and New Zealand High Commissioner to Canberra, retired in 2009 after an outstanding career of public service and international diplomacy. He is a graduate of Canterbury University with a BA in English and American Studies and an MA with First Class Honours in American Studies. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1972 and was posted to Canberra from 1974 to 1977. Back in New Zealand, from 1979-81 Simon worked on secondment in the Prime Minister's Advisory Group (PAG) as foreign policy adviser. He later served in Washington from 1983 to 1987, and was appointed Chief Executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1991, soon after its creation, until 1998. In November 1998 he was Visiting Professor (Public Policy and Management) at Victoria University of Wellington. From March 1999 to August 2002 he returned to Canberra as New Zealand High Commissioner. He was appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade in September 2002, and retired in June 2009. Simon was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for public services. Ends Released by: Penny Clevely Communications Manager: RNZPC/ TSC Tel: 04 238 3572 Mobile: 021 326 922 Email: penelope.clevely@police.govt.nz