They arrived as strangers and left as brothers and sisters in blue.
Fifty-seven members of Recruit Wing 357 are set to join their districts after their attestation and graduation ceremony last week.
“To my brothers and sisters of Wing 357 - we did it,” said Leadership Award recipient Constable Darin Kingi (Ngāti Awa, Bay of Plenty district) as he addressed the ceremony on behalf of the wing.
“Sixteen weeks of blood, sweat and tears for this moment. There’s no finer group that I would rather be standing with today…
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with people who have gone from strangers to friends and now family.”
The ceremony was held at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, with dignitaries including Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, representing Commissioner Andrew Coster; Justice Minister Kiritapu Allan, representing Police Minister Chris Hipkins; and Wing Patron Ed Sims.
Ed Sims spoke of his pride at having been part of the wing’s journey.
“When 357 walk out this door, every wahine and every man in the wing is a rangatira, a chief, a leader in their own right,” he said.
“Every single one of you has earned the right to that lofty title through your own determination, your own hard work, some blood, sweat and a few tears along the way. But you also had some amazing help.”
He promised his support as patron for their entire career. “I will have no other wing – I will be your patron for life…
“Never let your aspiration be replaced by cynicism. If you sense that happening, get hold of me. We’ll kōrero. I’ll never stop being patron of Wing 357.”
Some wing members have served in other agencies, including Defence, Fire and Corrections. Some have held non-constabulary positions in Police, or have family links to the organisation.
Constable Liam Guthrie with his father, Superintendent Jason Guthrie.
One graduate combining previous military service and deep family connections is Constable Liam Guthrie (Wellington).
His father Superintendent Jason Guthrie is Police’s Director Integrity and Conduct, and his great uncle Sergeant Stewart Guthrie was awarded the George Cross posthumously for his bravery at Aramoana, where he lost his life.
“Although I’m immensely proud of my family's service and sacrifice, this wasn’t my only motivation for joining,” says Liam.
“Most of all, I wanted an exciting, challenging and people-focused job and to do something that was different to the standard 9 to 5. I know Police will give me that.”
Constable Jaman Mercier (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, Central), winner of the Minister’s Award for first in wing, is a former Army dog handler – and has a goal of joining Police’s Dog Section.
“I was lucky enough to handle four dogs and train two, one of which I just finished training before I came here and successfully licensed her as an operational Explosives Detector Dog,” he says.
Left: Former Police employees, and now constabulary staff - Constables Owen Ankers and Anne Wong. Right: From Wales, with love. Owen with his parents Haydn and Carol and daughter Millie. Owen's wife Caroline was otherwise occupied with two-year-old Albie.
Constables Owen Ankers (Eastern) and Anne Wong (Counties Manukau) are familiar with Police. Owen was an Authorised Officer in Hastings – and is married to a police officer - and Anne worked in the File Management Centre and at the front counter in Counties.
Owen, who came to New Zealand in 2002 to play rugby in South Otago, had well-travelled support – his father Haydn flew from their native Wales for the graduation, joining Owen’s mum Carol who has been here helping with childcare.
“It’s great that they were able to come all the way from Wales,” says Owen. “It’s been years since we’ve seen each other because of COVID, and it’s the first time my dad has seen their new grandson.”
Haydn says it was well worth the journey. “I’m so proud to be here to see this,” he says.
In keeping with the Puhikura recruitment campaign, Wing 357 boasted proud wāhine Māori in Constables Layce Walker (Ngāti Porou, Central) and Tori-Anne Barton (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Waikato).
“Growing up, domestic violence wasn’t foreign to me - so making a difference by protecting our tamariki, whānau and homes is something I’ve always wanted to do,” says Layce, a former health sector community support worker.
Tori-Anne was juggling roles as youth facilitator/youth coach at Te Wananga o Aotearoa Youth Services and as a mother. To achieve her childhood goal of joining Police, she had to overcome the mental and literal barriers of Police’s fitness test.
“I decided to change my mindset and put the mahi in to make it happen.”
From left: Constables Walter Pomare, Tori-Anne Barton and Layce Walker; Will Dymond; and Atif Juma-Khan.
Overcoming barriers is nothing new to the family of Constable Atif Juma-Khan (Auckland), who was raised in Pakistan as a refugee from Afghanistan.
“I have always seen people and different organisations helping people in need, which really made me want to give back to needy communities,” he says. “I think I can do this very well in New Zealand Police.”
Atif has a gift for languages and speaks Hindi, Urdu, Dari and Persian and has a basic understanding of Pashto and Arabic.
Constable Walter Pomare (Northland), a former forestry worker, felt honoured to speak on behalf of the wing at the pōwhiri welcoming them to the Royal New Zealand Police College in May. Fast forward 16 weeks, and he was proudly speaking out again as kaikōrero when the wing performed the Police haka Ko Te Uru Pounamu.
Constable Will Dymond (Southern) is used to decision-making under pressure. After applying to join Police aged 17, he was advised to get some life experience. Local police in Invercargill suggested refereeing as a suitable path for football fan Will – and he became one of the district’s top young refs.
“Refereeing and policing have many similar responsibilities, making decisions under pressure, managing people, and a high level of fitness. My recruitment process took me four-and-a-half years and I’ve never looked back.”
The graduates start their policing careers on Monday (5 September).
Top award winners, from left: Constables Jaman Mercier, Darin Kingi and Gavin Roos.
Awards
Minister’s Award for First in Wing, recognising top student: Constable Jaman Mercier (Central District)
Patron’s Award for Second in Wing, recognising second top student: Constable Gavin Roos (Waitematā)
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership, and Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Darin Kingi (Bay of Plenty)
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Tarhys Ibbetson, (Bay of Plenty)
Firearms Award: Constable Ryan Bush (Counties Manukau)
Deployment
The wing will be dispersed as follows:
Northland – 3; Waitematā – 5; Auckland City – 6; Counties Manukau – 8; Waikato – 6; Bay of Plenty – 6; Eastern – 2; Central – 7; Wellington – 4; Tasman – 1; Canterbury – 5; Southern – 4.
Wing demographics
- 31.6 percent are female, and 68.4 percent are male
- NZ European - 70.2 percent; Māori - 10.5 percent; Pacific - 10.5 percent; Asian - 7 percent; Latin America, Africa and Middle East (LAAM) - 1.8 percent