New Zealand may be out of the World Cup, but we've got our own MVPs in the form of six newly graduated Delta teams, including patrol dogs Phoenix FC and Striker.
While Striker's football-related name is a happy coincidence, Phoenix was named after the Wellington Women’s Phoenix football team - Phoenix FC.
Now Phoenix is heading to Whanganui with first-time handler Constable Matt Stevenson to spread the football fanbase - and catch some criminals.
“Phoenix has been an awesome dog to train," says Matt. "He has a great ‘on and off’ switch that makes handling him enjoyable.
"We’ve both been lucky enough to have had great support from Sergeant Maxwell Spedding, Taranaki Dog Section and my colleges from Whanganui.
"I picked up Phoenix as a puppy so it’s special and I’m lucky enough to graduate with him. It’s a full circle moment.”
Police dog Striker is making his debut in Wellington with handler Constable Chelsea Warman.
The rest of the starting line-up includes Constable Mike Robertson and Kroc (Whakatāne) and Constable Corey Waite and Frost (Auckland), who are both first-time handlers; Constable Regan Wilson and Huxx (Dunedin); and Senior Constable Karl Hansen, who's returning to Christchurch with his fifth operational dog, Bruce.
During the graduation at the Dog Training Centre in Trentham last week, Karl was acknowledged for his experience as a handler and for helping the new trainees on the course. His police dog Bruce was named after former Canterbury dog handler Senior Constable Bruce Lamb, who died in 2023.
"I’ve now been in the job for 29 years, with 21 of those years working as a dog handler," says Karl.
"I think it’s really great that this dog was named after Bruce Lamb, and it’s special to carry on that legacy - especially since we have Bruce’s son Michael working here as a dog handler in our unit.”
Assistant Commissioner Jeanette Park acknowledged the six freshly trained teams and the importance of dog sections across the country.
“The dog teams are magnificent," she said. "You're there when there's a critical incident. You're there when our staff are in danger and need your help and support.
"Frontline staff at an incident know that when Delta is on their way, things will be good – it will be OK, dogs are coming, and they will have it under control.
“To our graduating handlers, my sincere congratulations on becoming an operational team, soon to be out on the road attending jobs. Thank you for your commitment to what is such an integral part of policing in New Zealand and keeping our communities and our people safe.”
Inspector Todd Southall, National Coordinator Police Dogs, acknowledged two special visitors to the graduation - Wellington Phoenix Football Club's head coaches Bev Priestman and Chris Greenacre.
"[They] are here to watch a dog named after the women’s team, Phoenix FC, graduate today with his handler Matt," said Todd. "Phoenix was one of the three pups named after women’s sporting codes in the region. The puppies Poua (women’s rugby) and Pulse (netball) are still in the programme."
Todd said he often found himself talking about how great our dog teams are and the high standards they're at, but for good reasons.
"One of the reasons it's the norm now is that we have an outstanding breeding programme," he said. "I’d like to thank our teams here at the Dog Training Centre, plus our course trainers based here and those in districts - from handlers to team leaders and managers. We could not do all this without your help.
"These graduates have worked very hard to obtain this operational qualification and it's a pleasure to see them graduate today.”