The constables of Recruit Wing 400 are now at work in their districts after a graduation which marked a landmark for Police and a giant leap for them.
Seventy years after the graduation of Wing 1, our latest 69 graduates became constables after 20 weeks of hard training and, in some cases, years of working toward the moment.
They graduated at Te Rauparaha Arena on 8 October with hundreds of friends and loved ones in attendance.
On the dais were dignitaries including Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett, representing Commissioner Richard Chambers, Associate Police Minister Casey Costello and Wing Patron Joe Harawira KSO.
Mike spoke of the legacy of the 400 milestone, now being “carried into the 400s” by the wing.
“It’s a legacy previous wings have found, and become legacy builders themselves,” he said. “So please refer back to your wing with pride.”
Associate Minister Costello recalled joining Police with Wing 106 in 1986.
“This wing is a milestone and I can’t help but think about the many wings that have come before and graduated like these wonderful people here today, starting with Wing 1 in 1956,” she said.
“Whether your journey is five years, 10 years or 40 years, this is something that will never leave you.”
Patron Joe spoke about the ‘great and wonderful journey’ he and the wing had shared and addressed their responsibility to generations past and future.
“I’m not here to tell the recruits how to behave,” he said. “Their ancestors and those sitting on their shoulders will be whispering in their ear as they move through their police career.”
He held up a plaque presented to him on behalf of the wing, which he had asked all members to hold.
“They have imbued my taonga with their essence, their very being… every time I look at this it will remind me of my wing.”
Wing members came from the customary diversity of backgrounds and life experiences. Some had previous employment or family links with Police at home or overseas, and some had spent time in other uniformed services.
Many members cited sporting or cultural achievements, including rugby, football, swimming, taekwando, cheerleading – and two former or current body builders. Some members had worked as volunteers, and many had experience of living and working overseas.
First in Wing Constable Haydn Mayo (Waitematā) spent five years in the New Zealand Air Cadet Force and wanted to continue with a career in uniform – but thought he could achieve more in Police blue than Air Force blue.
“So many of the problems we face seem to be related to youth and family harm and I thought working in Police would be more relevant as a way of helping people while still being in a uniformed service,” he says.
He was “stoked and very grateful” to have earned the award and loved the college experience.
“I’ve been blessed to have the right crew around me, with the right sergeant looking after us. “It’s such an honour to graduate with these people. I’m very proud.”
For Leadership Award winner Constable Rachel Wood (Bay of Plenty) it has been a 16-year journey. She applied at 18 but the pipeline was closed and applicants were told to reapply. She decided to seek life experience and ended up working in admin at Rotorua Hospital.
She reapplied around seven years ago, by then a mother of two, but had to withdraw after suffering a netball injury. Now she has been able to achieve her ambition in style, with an award she said left her ‘super humbled”.
Addressing the wing, she said they had arrived 20 weeks ago “wide-eyed and nervously looking forward to the unknown” and had worked together “through many experiences, learnings and lot of character building” to make their families proud.
“Just know you can do it and always remember your ‘why’,” she said. “You all have the character and resilience to get through the unknown.
“When you put that uniform on remember those you love, remember those that taught you and remember those that inspired you.
“But most of all remember who you are as a person, both as a police officer and outside of Police.”
More about Wing 400
Awards
Minister’s Award for first in Wing - Constable Haydn Mayo (Waitematā)
Patron’s Award for Second in Wing - Constable Caleb Griffiths (Counties Manukau)
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership - Constable Rachel Wood (Bay of Plenty)
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award - Constable Jackson Cardy (Auckland City)
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award - Constable Pipiri Kenehuru Aoturoa (Waitematā)
Firearms Award - Constable Ethan Dawson (Central)
Deployment
The new constables were deployed as follows:
Waitematā - 8; Auckland City - 4; Counties Manukau - 11; Waikato - 7; Bay of Plenty - 3; Eastern – 7: Central - 4; Wellington - 14; Tasman - 4; Canterbury - 6; Southern – 1.
They reported for duty in their districts on Monday 19 October
Demographics
The wing was 25% female and 75% male. Members identified as NZ European 78.3% (54); Māori 7.2% (5); Pasifika 2.9% (2); Asian 8.7% (6); and LAAM 1.4% (1).
The youngest member was 18; the oldest 57.
The patron
For more than 45 years, Joe Harawira KSO (Ngāti Awa, Ngai Te Rangi, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tūhourangi) has advanced te ao Māori through education, performing arts, conservation and public service.
He started teaching in Māori language immersion schools and later supported the development of bilingual and kaupapa Māori education across Waikato. He has been instrumental in the reclamation of tā moko as a tool for identity.
He led Te Kapa Haka o Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato from 1977 to 2008, has been a head judge at Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Competitions, and chairs He Awhi Tikanga Committee for Toi Māori Aotearoa.
He has chaired Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa through major events including the COVID-19 response, the Whakaari White Island eruption and large-scale development projects. He led the integration of mātauranga into the Department of Conservation’s work and supported their development of te reo Māori strategy, policy and practice.
His association with Police began in the 1990s as a cultural advisor. He supported Police in projects from translating the ‘DARE to make a Choice’ drugs education resource (Tēna Kōwhiria) into te reo Māori, through to Treaty of Waitangi training sessions in Waikato District.
Joe is currently working with DOC, is the Kaumātua to the Governor-General of Aotearoa-New Zealand and provides advice and support to government agencies.
He was made a Companion of the King’s Service Order for services to Māori education, arts and conservation this year.