Police was better off by more than 60 new constables after Wing 398 graduated in front of Commissioner Richard Chambers, Executive colleagues and Patron Chris Cahill last month.
The 61 new police officers were joined by four newcomers who were formerly police in Australia as they celebrated the end of their own course.
The four Australian officers were trained separately from the latest wing, completing a 10-week course rather than the usual 20 weeks undertaken by recruits. This allowed the four to spend more time doing on-the-job work in districts before completing their course.
Commissioner Chambers recognised them by thanking Kiwi Constables Jesse Williams, Hayden Day and James Webber for returning home and Constable Callum Holden, the only Australian, for choosing New Zealand to call home. He also thanked the new constables of Wing 398.
“It’s been a privilege getting to know some of you," he said. "My sincere thanks for choosing policing. This is just the beginning of your journey and I wish you well.”
Chris Cahill said it was an incredible honour to be Wing 398's patron.
"I commend you all - your effort and sacrifice. I’d like to acknowledge the sacrifice of the family and friends who ensured you could all be here and all make it through. Keep your sense of fairness as a guiding light and you won’t go far wrong.”
Both courses graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 30 July and were supported and celebrated by family and friends.
One new constable pleased to be heading out on duty is Constable Casey Harris. The former Wellington Māori rugby league player injured himself after joining Wing 382 in 2024.
“I was fortunate enough to stand down from that wing and spend 14 months at the front counter of the North Shore policing centre on light duties until I got the call-up again.”
Casey will be based in Waitemata.
Constable Sarina Anderson is a former Franz Joseph Glacier guide and Antarctic NZ Field Training Instructor.
“I volunteered for St John Ambulance and wanted to push myself further helping in the community," she says. "The ability to keep learning and expanding in my career is important to me in staying engaged. Police offers so many different opportunities for that."
Sarina will be based in Eastern district.
Joining Sarina in Eastern is Constable Carlos Haua, who was inspired to join Police by doing the CACTUS Challenge in 2018.
“When I was in high school in 2018, I took part in a cause called the Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit or CACTUS. CACTUS is an intensive physical training and life skills programme that was run by the Eastern District Police in a select number of schools in Hawke’s Bay.
"I would have to say this cemented my plan and thoughts on eventually joining the New Zealand Police. The staff that ran that programme all had the same resilient mindset of when things get tough just put one foot in front of the other and get the mahi done.”
More about Wing 398
Awards
Minister's Award for First in Wing - Constable Richard Forder (Wellington)
Patron's award for Second in Wing - Constable Logan Warner (Wellington)
Commissioner's Award for Leadership - Constable Morse McLennan (Auckland City).
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award - Constable Rebecca Campbell (Eastern)
Firearms Award - Constable Sean Richardson (Eastern)
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award- Constable Joshua Platford (Waikato)
Speaking at graduation, Leadership Award winner Constable Morse McLennan said: "These 20 weeks have shown me just how beautiful your hearts and your souls are. Like the values on the wall behind us, you are all kind, caring and empathetic and our country, like the world, needs more police officers like you in it.”
Deployment
Wing members were deployed as follows:
Northland - 1; Tāmaki Makaurau - 26, across the three districts: Auckland City - 7, Waitematā - 9 and Counties Manukau - 10; Waikato - 6; Eastern - 5; Central - 5; Wellington - 14; Tasman - 1; Canterbury - 3.
They reported for duty in their districts on Monday 10 August.
Demographics
The membership of Wing 398 was 21% female, 79% percent male.
Members were aged between 18 and 46 years old and identified as follows: NZ European 69.4%; Māori 3.2%; Pasifika 6.5%; Asian 16.1%; LAAM 4.8%; and other 1.6%.
The Patron
Retired Detective Inspector Chris Cahill gave 40 years of service to New Zealand Police and led the New Zealand Police Association for nine of those years.
Chris joined Police in 1986 as a member of Wing 102 and was first posted to his home town, Invercargill, later moving to Te Kuiti where he joined the CIB, then to Napier. There he established himself as a highly capable investigator and developed a strong reputation for organised crime investigations. He was subsequently promoted to sergeant and then detective sergeant.
In 2007, he transferred to Auckland where he was promoted to detective senior sergeant, taking up the role of Officer in Charge of Investigations – Drugs and Organised Crime – for Auckland Metro. In this position he led some of New Zealand’s largest national and international drug investigations. He received a commendation for Operation Hoffman, in which he led a covert investigative team in Tonga during a major phase of a worldwide investigation.
In 2011, he became the first New Zealand Police officer seconded to the Australian Federal Police as part of joint organised crime and counter terrorism cooperation initiatives. Returning to Auckland Central and promoted to detective inspector, Chris was responsible for re-establishing the 24/7 Crime Squads.
In 2016, he was elected President of the New Zealand Police Association. In this role he was a prominent public figure, representing and advocating for members. After the 15 March Christchurch terror attack, Chris was a key advocate for reforms to New Zealand’s firearms laws.
Chris was also an executive member of the International Council of Police Representative Associations and of the Police Federation of Australia.
During his tenure as President, he led significant organisational changes. He also created a board position dedicated to police employee representation and championed the appointment of women to governance roles.