The seventy-five new constables of Wing 255 will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College today. Their wing patron has been local Ngati Toa Rangatira kaumatua and Police College stalwart Te Akapikirangi Arthur. (see notes on wing patron below)
Among the new officers are:
- Constable Adriaan Geldenhuys, who has moved to New Zealand after 15 years with the South African Police and is certainly not daunted by the prospect of starting his career anew; in fact his second graduation from police training comes 20 years after his first. In South Africa, Constable Geldenhuys was a field training supervisor, overseeing the mentoring of new constables in the field during the 6-month period after leaving the police college. Constable Gedenhuys is posted to Auckland City.
- Two former DOC staff from the Tasman area.
Constable Raymond Clapp worked a as a DOC Ranger for several years, often in isolation on various remote islands around New Zealand, monitoring our native and endangered species including tuatara, takahe, kiwi and kakapo. He also lived in Australia, working for the 'Mankind' project which operates world-wide, and completed a 1200km charity walk from Melbourne to Sydney. The walk provided time for reflection on his next steps. Looking for a job with the possibility of daily adventure and excitement, Constable Clapp applied to join the NZ Police. He is posted to Nelson
Constable Nick Cooke, also worked for DOC for two years before joining NZ Police. As an Historic Ranger in Westport he put his history degree to work on a project restoring coal- and gold-mining machinery and other artefacts at the former mining town of Denniston.
Before that, Nick was a fire fighter in the South Australia National Parks for two seasons. He was involved in fighting the fires that razed 1.3 million hectares of bush in Gippsland, Victoria and on Kangaroo Island, SA. Originally from Blenheim, Constable Cooke is posted to Greymouth.
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Graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College, Papakowhai Rd, Porirua on Thursday 12 March 2009 at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Police, Hon Judith Collins and Police Commissioner Howard Broad.
75 recruits will graduate - 57 males, 18 females.
The average age of wing members is 28. The youngest is 18 and the oldest is 50.
To find out more about joining the Police, phone 0800 NEW COPS (639 2677) or visit: www.newcops.co.nz
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DISTRICT POSTINGS
Northland - Whangarei (2), Kerikeri (1)
Waitematâ - Henderson (5), North Shore Policing Centre (4)
Auckland City - Auckland Central FTU (10)
Counties-Manukau - Manurewa (3), Papakura (3), Otahuhu (4), Howick (3)
Waikato - Te Awamutu (2), Hamilton (4), Huntly (1), Te Kuiti (1)
Bay of Plenty - Whakatane (1), Tauranga (1), Tokoroa (1)
Eastern - Gisborne (1)
Central - Levin (1), Wanganui (1)
Wellington - Masterton (1), Upper Hutt (2), Lower Hutt (2), Wellington (5), Porirua (6), Traffic Alcohol Group (2)
Tasman - Nelson (2), Blenheim (3), Greymouth (1)
Southern - Oamaru (2)
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Wing 255 PRIZE WINNERS:
• The Minister's Prize for First in Wing will be awarded to Constable Richard BRISCOE, posted to Wellington.
Constable Briscoe has also won the INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION Academic Prize (for overall academic achievement) ERICSSON Practical Prize for the overall winner of practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting.
• The Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing will be awarded to Constable Sean MURRAY, posted to Otahuhu. Constable Murray has also won the Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training
• The Patron's Prize for Third in Wing will be awarded to Constable Laura LUCAS, posted to Hamilton.
• The HOLDEN Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) will be awarded to Constable Daniel SCOTT, posted to Porirua.
• The INTERGRAPH Computer Skills Prize for the overall winner in Computer Studies will be awarded to Constable Holly BAXTER, posted to Auckland City.
• The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award will be presented to Constable Ian NOTMAN, posted to Oamaru.
• The Driver Training Award will be presented to Constable Richard BREARLEY posted to Upper Hutt.
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 Nicholas COOKE, posted to Greymouth
Section Two Constable Catherine HAARE, posted to Henderson
Section Three Constable Michael McAFFER, posted to Wellington
Section Four Constable Sumita RHODES, posted to Wanganui
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WING PATRON, Te Akapikirangi Arthur
Ngati Toa Rangatira kaumâtua Te Akapikirangi Arthur was born in Manaia, in Taranaki, but has spent most of his life in Takapuwâhia, Porirua, where he is surrounded by his whânau and hâpu.
A life-long member of the Mormon Church, in 1963 Aka was a member of the 136-strong Te Arohanui Mâori Company which toured the USA singing at the Hollywood Bowl and performing at Salt Lake City in an exchange with the world-renowned Tabernacle choir.
Aka was elected Chairman of the first Board of Trustees (BOT) for Porirua School under the 'Tomorrow's Schools' policy and later also served on the BOT at Mana College.
From 1998-2007 he served on the Wellington Conservation Board. Since 2000 he has been on the council at Whitireia Community Polytechnic and a member of the Inter-iwi group (Aratahi) of the Greater Wellington Regional Council. In the same year, he became the kaumatua for The Royal New Zealand Police College replacing his brother Ihakara (Ken) Arthur on his death.
Aka has shared the wealth of his knowledge, leadership, vision and compassion with hundreds of members of Police as they have passed through the College. His insights, quiet wisdom and genuine support of past and present Training Commanders have been very welcome and his friendship has made for an enduring relationship between Ngâti Toa Rangitira and the College.
He has endowed police officers with insight and understanding of tîkanga and te rço Mâori. He demonstrates how police officers and Mâori can better relate to one another, thus reducing the potential for conflict in operational settings. His mana and methods enable officers to be positive and active in establishing strong relationships with local iwi at their new postings.
In 2005 Aka became kaumâtua for the Royal NZ Punket Society and he was awarded the Queens Service Medal for community service. He became a Justice of the Peace in 2007.
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For more information or media wishing to attend the graduation please contact:
Katrina Graham, Communications Adviser - 04 238 3572 or 0274 419 216
ENDS