From Shanghai to Mt. Wellington

A Chinese migrant who arrived in New Zealand from Shanghai just six years ago has topped a recent graduating recruit wing.

Yang Cao was among 36 new Police officers who graduated on 6 March, topping the wing and taking the prize for practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting.

In doing so, he made his police officer parents very proud. Both parents travelled from China to see him graduate.

After arriving in New Zealand, Yang achieved the International English Language Testing System level necessary to enrol at university. He completed a Bachelor of Business Studies at Massey, majoring in finance.

He then worked for a food manufacturing business before deciding he wanted a more exciting life and began the Police recruiting process.

In preparation for his training, Yang undertook the Police ‘Precep’ programme, which has been trialled in Auckland since April 2007.

The programme identifies applicants who show potential to be effective police officers but who, for one reason or another, may not be ready to begin the 19-week training course at the Royal New Zealand Police College.

Aimed particularly at Police’s target recruitment audience, the programme identifies applicants from Māori, Pacific and Asian communities, as well as women and youth, and helps set them up for success when they join the College.

Precep is a work-placement programme and, in Yang’s case, helped him to improve his understanding of the New Zealand working environment.

Yang says the Precep programme enabled him to learn first-hand what policing is about and be more confident interacting with the public.

Having spent two weeks at the College as part of the programme, Yang says he settled in easily when he arrived for training in October last year.

He is now serving at the Mt. Wellington Station.

Wing 248 enjoyed tremendous support through its training period from patron – academic and former captain of the New Zealand Black Ferns women’s rugby team – Dr Farah Palmer.