59 new recruits graduate today to become police officers

Porirua - Fifty nine new constables from 364 wing will graduate from their initial training course in Porirua today.

The 58 recruits have passed and are celebrating their success with their whānau and friends this afternoon.

Attending the ceremony will be commissioner Andrew Coster, minister of police Ginny Andersen and the 364 wing patron, Viv Rickard (Ngāti Porou, Te Arawa and Ngāti Whare).

Rickard joined the police in 1985, serving throughout the North Island in general duties and criminal investigations. He was one of the youngest detective inspectors appointed at the time.

He served as a district commander in Northland and Auckland and, in 2008, was promoted to assistant commissioner. He is now a deputy chief executive in the ministry of social development where he oversees employment, income and housing delivery throughout New Zealand with 7300 staff.

The 364 wing leadership award winner is recruit Amanda Wilson. She has previously worked as a flight attendant and is currently studying for her bachelor’s degree through Massey University. She is a mother of one and her partner is a police officer.

She says wanted to join the police as she felt she was wasting her potential. She felt she had the qualities to become a great police officer.  She is posted to Counties Manukau district.

Top or first in wing and posted to Wellington district is recruit Christian Merten who has two degrees, in science and law and is fluent in speaking German. He worked as a lawyer before deciding to change to policing.

Second in wing, recruit Mitchell Wheatley, has previously been a dairy farmer, and then later worked in the construction sector. He follows his father, a retired dog handler into policing. He is posted to the Canterbury district.

Awards:

• Minister’s award recognising top student: constable Christian Merten, Wellington district

• Patron’s award for second in Wing, recognising second top student – constable Mitchell Wheatley, Canterbury district

• Commissioner’s award for leadership: constable Amanda Wilson, Counties Manukau district.

• Physical training and defensive tactics award: constable Christian Merten, Wellington district.

• Driver training and road policing practice award: constable Navajo Prentice, Canterbury district.

• Firearms award: constable Tierney Horler, Southern district

The entire wing will disperse to the following districts on April 10:

Auckland 10, Counties Manukau 10, Waikato five,  Bay of Plenty seven, Eastern four, Central three, Wellington eight, Tasman two, Canterbury four 4, Southern five.

Demographics:

36.2 percent are female, and 63.8 percent are male. New Zealand pakeha make up 70.2 percent of the wing, with Māori seven percent, Pacific 8.8 percent, Asian 12.3 percent and Latin American, African and Middle Eastern 1.7 percent.