As Chief Executive of Ngāti Toa, experienced director, executive and consultant Helmut Modlik was the right patron for Wing 359.
“You will be going into a world where Police staff have gone before you and you will be judged for wearing your uniform,” he told the graduating recruits. “However, you can still be yourself.
“You are ordinary people undertaking an extraordinary role that will put you, on some days, into extraordinary circumstances. Be humble and have empathy.”
Leadership award winner Constable Lifu Petelo Mua’au echoed the patron’s message in his speech to the wing.
“Do the basics well and align with our values,” Lifu said. “I joined Police because I want to lead by example.
“We need to be role models in everything we do, inside Police and outside. We have the ability to deliver a service that the public expect and deserve.”
Leadership award winner Constable Lifu Petelo Mua’au.
The recruit with the highest marks for overall achievement was Constable Amie Bentall, who is posted to Waitematā District.
Amie has previously worked in television production as a director and editor for Police TV shows Dog Squad and Dog Squad Puppy School and was thrilled to be receiving the prize for top of wing.
“Earlier this year I completed a Graduate Diploma in Security Studies through Massey University,” she said. “It was this study that led me to apply for the police along with a strong desire to make a positive difference in the community.
“I am really proud to be wearing the Police korowai today and I’m looking forward to starting work in district.”
Top award winner Constable Amie Bentall, pictured with Commissioner Andrew Coster as he places Te Matauranga, the Korowai of The Royal New Zealand Police College, on her shoulders for the ceremony; and sharing a joke with patron Helmut Modlik after the graduation.
Following the Puhikura recruitment campaign, Wing 359 welcomed Constable Samantha (Sam) Nash – Ngāti Awa. Sam helped others in the wing by organising much of the haka training and helping them learn the proper pronunciation of te reo during haka practice.
Sam, who is still researching much of her Māori heritage, was one of three constables performing the karanga during the wing haka at graduation.
“Being part of the Puhikura recruitment campaign has made me more passionate about te reo and te ao Māori and I was lucky to take part in it,” she says.
From recruit to constable: Constable Sam Nash.
“I am very much looking forward to getting out into my community to try to make a difference and encourage more wāhine like me to join Police.”
A more experienced officer, attending his last graduation, was Sergeant Jeff Robertson. He retired from Police after serving New Zealand for the past 45 years.
Jeff has made an enormous contribution to policing in the Wellington District, especially at the Royal New Zealand Police College. Over the past 30 years, he has trained and graduated thousands of recruits. In retirement he will be taking care of a younger set of ‘recruits’.
“I am looking forward to helping with regular childcare of my three grandsons,” he says.
Sergeant Jeff Robertson's final day as part of the wing colour party.
A newly graduated constable with his proud dad is Cheyne Wesley. Cheyne followed his father into Police as his dad, Mike Ball, was a police officer in New Zealand – graduating in 1996.
Mike resigned from the New Zealand Police and now lives in California and is a cop in the City of Marina Police Force.
Proud fathers: Constable Tyler Moran with his dad Josh and Constable Cheyne Wesley and his dad, Mike Ball.
As Superintendent Warwick Morehu made the closing address, he told the story of newly graduated Constable Tyler Moran who followed his grandfather, John Moran, into Police.
“John Moran was a well-respected physical and defensive tactics trainer at the College for many years and died only recently. John would regularly offer the recruits some very sage advice: ‘Your uniform gives you authority, but it’s your actions that give you respect.’”
Wing 359 prize winners, from left: Constables Edmund Hilder, Nathaniel Pace, Amie Bentall, Lifu Petelo-Mua’au, Rochelle Emmett and Kaden Fitzgerald.
Awards
Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Amie Bentall, Graduate Diploma in Security Studies, Massey University is posted to Waitematā District.
Patron’s Award for Second in Wing recognising second-top student: Constable Edmund Hilder, Partially completed Master of Theology and Bachelor of Theology starts in Canterbury District.
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Lifu Petelo Mua’au is posted to Counties Manukau District.
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Nathaniel Pace is posted to Bay of Plenty District.
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Rochelle Emmett, Bachelor of Science Ecology and Biodiversity and Criminology is off to Wellington District.
Firearms Award: Constable Kaden Fitzgerald, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics is deployed to Waitematā District.
Deployment
The wing will disperse to the following districts:
Northland – 2, Waitematā – 9, Auckland City – 2, Counties Manukau – 13, Waikato – 5, Bay of Plenty – 4, Eastern – 3, Central – 6, Wellington – 3, Tasman – 2, Canterbury – 5, Southern – 4
Wing demographics:
Thirty-one per cent are female, 67.2 per cent are male and 1.7 per cent are gender diverse.
New Zealand European make up 69 per cent of the wing, with Māori 15.5 per cent, Pacific 8.6 per cent, Asian 5.2 per cent and Latin America, Africa and Middle East (LAAM) 1.7 per cent.