From First to frontline

SPECIAL REPORT: The Police Minister’s Award for the First in Wing is hard-earned, acknowledging the Police recruit who has done best across the many assessments and requirements of initial training. But then what? TEN ONE checks in with three former top award winners to see how their careers are going.

‘My job for life’ - Detective Constable Jaymie King

Jaymie is on the Child Protection Team in Hamilton CIB, coming up for rotation to CIB General Squad in July this year.

She graduated top of wing 356 in 2022, since when she has been working hard with the goal of qualifying as a detective and then trying out for a sergeant position. 

“I’m pretty happy with my development and progression within Police already to get into CIB within three years of starting college,” she says.

“I’m keen to spend time moving within the multiple teams of CIB before I try to promote and eventually hopefully land as a detective sergeant one day.”

Jaymie didn’t plan to take out the first prize, but got there through her hard work.  

“I always thought it was a long shot! I was absolutely beside myself when it was announced I’d won.

“My grandfather had just passed weeks before graduation due to COVID, I had his funeral during my driving week and I think that made it just that much more special that I could win for him.”

Jaymie decided to give policing a go when she got bored with her office job and was feeling unfulfilled. She applied on a whim.

“My stepdad was in Police and had some pretty cool stories of work,” she says.

“I found myself asking more and more questions about his work and eventually thought I may as well try it out for myself.

“Best decision I ever made - this is my job for life now.”

‘Energy, variety and purpose’ - Constable Laura Gibbs

Constable Laura Gibbs, with no regrets in 2025 and, right, graduating in 2019.

Growing up, Laura was inspired by her police officer father’s passion for policing.

When she was 15 years old, she volunteered for a controlled purchase cannabis operation and saw the team in action - and this confirmed her decision to pursue a policing career.

“I wanted a job where no two days are the same and you can genuinely make a difference in your community.”

Laura graduated in 2019 in Wing 331. “I always hoped I would be capable of coming top of my wing, but with many other talented colleagues in my wing, I had some tough competition.

“When my name was called it was a surreal and unforgettable moment.”

She is currently an investigator on the Tactical Crime Unit in New Plymouth.

“Our team focuses on dishonesty-related volume crime, everything from shoplifting and stolen vehicles to burglaries and ram raids.

“We gather evidence, execute search warrants and work to recover stolen property and resolve cases for victims.”

She says she was drawn to policing as a role of energy, variety and purpose. Her advice to anyone interested in policing is 'take the leap and give it a go'.

“The training requires hard work and dedication, but it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve met so many people who say they wish they had joined earlier and now regret not doing it - don’t let that be you.”

‘Flexibility and support’ - Detective Constable Hannah Parata

The new Constable Hannah Parata in 2017, left, and Detective Constable Hannah at Johnsonville in 2025.

Hannah is based in Wellington, where she has served since she graduated in 2017.

Police wasn’t her original plan - she figured she would become a teacher like her parents and completed a university degree with that in mind.

But after working for a time at a school, she realised it wasn’t for her and joined Police instead.

When she won the top award for Wing 310, she kept it a secret from her family.

“I wasn’t intending to win First in Wing, the top prize, but I just kept my head down and chipped away throughout the course, and that's what ended up happening.

“I was pretty surprised and proud when I heard that I’d won the award so I didn't tell my family. It was a really special moment when the award was read out at graduation and they realised I had won it."

Now she is seeking to forge a career in CIB and appreciates the flexibility and support she has found in Police.

“It's taken a lot of hard work and dedication, completing modules and having some time off work after I had my daughter, so it will be an amazing feeling to finally achieve my detective qualification before the end of this year.

“I was initially hesitant about working shift work again with a little one, but it is working really well for our whānau and it's awesome to see that you can still have a fulfilling career alongside raising a family.”

Hannah thinks there aren’t too many jobs where you get to have the best work stories and be challenged every day.

 “As police we provide some comfort and answers to the people who we meet on their worst days and I like knowing that in this role we often have a deeper sense of satisfaction in our job choice because we can help people. I know I do.”