The 50 new constables of Recruit Wing 372 join their districts this week after a rousing graduation ceremony marking the end of the 'blood, sweat and tears' of initial training.
They graduated on Thursday 25 January at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, in front of their Patron - Oranga Tamariki CEO Chappie Te Kani - Police Executive members, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and an enthusiastic audience of wellwishers.
They paid a poignant tribute to those not present, laying out photos of loved ones who had passed before performing the Police haka.
As well as welcoming the new constables, the graduation saw two significant farewells, with tributes to retiring Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha, and to David Dell, finishing after 21 years as RNZPC Chaplain.
On the dais - Commissioner Andrew Coster, Patron Chappie Te Kani and Minister Mark Mitchell address the graduation.
Making the customary speech on behalf of the wing, Leadership Award-winner Constable Brendon Manley (Auckland City) said: “This wing felt special from early on.”
His “brothers and sisters” of Wing 372, he said, had literally shed blood sweat and tears during their training.
To their Patron, he said: “You reminded us of the importance of humility, the importance of whanau, of knowing who we are and where we come from. In our role, just like your role, we will have many challenges.”
For his part, Patron Chappie said he was proud to be linked to the finest wing to join Police and drew a parallel between the roles of Police and Oranga Tamariki in protecting the most vulnerable New Zealanders.
For First in Wing Constable Tristan Lancaster (Canterbury), joining Police was a long-held ambition arising from the example of family and friends in the organisation - particularly his uncle, a senior constable with nearly 30 years’ service.
“I remember when I was young seeing my uncle getting changed into his uniform on Christmas Day,” he says. “I asked where he was going and got the reply that he was off to help people who needed it.
“Since then I’ve admired his and other officers’ commitment and strived to be like them.”
He saw Police – particularly Police SAR – in action in two incidents involving family members.
“The feeling of knowing someone that didn’t even know my family was out helping get them home safe was a huge relief. It’s a feeling I want to pass on.”
Tristan aims to get involved in Police SAR and to continue his duties as a member of Darfield Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Syrian-born Constable Ammar Alsaleh (Central), pictured right with fellow Syrian and colleague Rabia Talal Almbaid, came to New Zealand in 2014 after war erupted in his homeland.
He says he has a desire to give back to the community that has embraced him. “It is my belief that by serving as a police officer, I can contribute to the well-being and safety of this remarkable nation and its people.”
Ammar was supported by friends from within Police and the local Syrian community.
“It's been a pleasure getting to know Ammar and being a part of his journey,” says Rabia Talal Almbaid, National Senior Partnerships Advisor – Ethnic.
“It is truly inspiring to witness members of the Syrian community in Wellington supporting Ammar and encouraging his career with Police.”
It’s back to the future for Constable Alby Taare (Bay of Plenty). He first graduated in 2006 – following the footsteps of his father Bill, a dog handler in Invercargill and Christchurch, and grandfather. Alby worked in Counties Manukau until resigning in 2013 after a family tragedy.
“Over the years, I’ve watched police work and there have been many events that I believe I could have assisted with,” he says. “It has been frustrating not being able to help. I can’t wait to get back into it.”
Constable Christel Jager (Eastern) was supposed to be in Wing 367 but broke her hand 10 days before the wing started, then worked as a Station Support Officer in Napier until another spot came up.
As a 16-year-old she worked in a racing stable – “very hard work and I think it instilled a great work ethic”. Her interest in racehorses includes part ownership of one which won the country’s richest race, the Karaka Million for two-year-olds.
Constables Christel Jager and Toni Crombie-Ridding.
Constable Toni Crombie-Ridding (Wellington) has also been places with her love of horses.
After school she began working at a large professional horse breeding and competition yard in Ōtaki, which involved travelling to shows nationwide. She also worked at a horse ranch in Canada, taking tourists on rides in remote forest.
Closer to home she has worked as a Police Emergency Communicator. Both Toni and Christel have shared their love of horses as volunteers with Riding for the Disabled.
Constable Armond Onekawa was able to call on some good advice in training - his partner Constable Hannah Spijkerman graduated from Wing 356 in August 2022. Armond is joining Hannah in Waikato District - he in Te Awamutu, she in Hamilton.
Reunions in blue: Constables Armond Onekawa and Hannah Spijkerman, left; and Constable Kelsey Barbarich with husband Sergeant Tim.
Kelsey Barbarich (Ngāti Porou, Eastern District) has previously worked as a Station Support Officer at Ruatoria Police Station – and for a while worked alongside her husband, Sergeant Tim Barbarich.
“I saw first-hand as a Station Support Officer - and as a wife - the highs and lows associated with policing small communities,” she says. “With tremendous hardships come great outcomes.”
More about Wing 372
Deployment
Wing 372 joined their districts on Monday 5 February. They were dispersed as follows:
Northland - 1; Waitematā - 3; Auckland City - 9; Counties Manukau - 5; Waikato - 4; Bay of Plenty - 4; Eastern - 6; Central - 3; Wellington - 5; Tasman - 2; Canterbury - 5; Southern - 3.
Demographics
Members range in age from 19 to 53. The wing is 34% female and 66% male. They identify as: NZ European – 60%; Māori – 18%; Pasifika – 4%; Asian – 14%; LAAM (Latin American, African, Middle Eastern) – 2%; Other – 2%.
About the Patron
Chappie Te Kani (Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Tūhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto, Rongowhakaata) was appointed Secretary for Children and Tumu Whakarae/Chief Executive of Oranga Tamariki in December 2022.
He was raised in rural Tairāwhiti. His late mother Jacqui was general manager and former National President of the Māori Women’s Welfare League.
In an interview with Te Ao Māori News last year, which described him as ‘the legal father of thousands’, he said: “I know where my maunga is, I know where my land is, I know my whakapapa, that is my core, that's my compass. If I ever feel I'm losing perspective, I get back to my core - my wife and my kids.”
He has held many civil service leadership roles, including in the COVID-19 response at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Assistant Commissioner at the Public Service Commission; Acting Chief Executive Te Arawhiti in 2020; Acting Chief Executive Ministry of Pacific Peoples in 2017; and Deputy Secretary of Treaty Negotiations at the Ministry for the Environment.