For Gisborne Police Sergeant Stu Rota and Detective Jo Sim, a shared career in Police has become more than just a job.
It has been a journey of 21 years for Stu and 14 for his wife, Jo – one that began when they met at Police College and has taken them from Wellington to Gisborne, where they have found a lifestyle and community they love.
Their paths first crossed when Jo was a recruit at the Royal New Zealand Police College and Stu was there carrying out dog training. It was the beginning of a relationship that would grow alongside two Police careers.
Six years ago, the couple made the move to Gisborne, drawn by the lifestyle and the opportunity to enjoy life outside the demands of policing.
Recently the pair received their 21- and 14-year long service and good conduct medals alongside four of their Tairāwhiti colleagues, recognising 150 years of combined service to New Zealand Police.
For Stu, the reason for staying is simple: he loves the job.
The move from a large city to a smaller community has also given him a different perspective on policing.
“Going from Wellington to Gisborne has been awesome," he says. "You can connect better with people and the community in smaller places.”
That connection is one of the things that makes the job particularly rewarding for him.
For Jo, it is the people and the unpredictable nature of the work that continues to keep her motivated.
“It’s the camaraderie and the excitement of the job that I love,” she says.
Both Jo and Stu have been members of the Armed Offenders Squad in Wellington and Gisborne.
Stu is extremely proud of his wife who is now a detective.
“From leading the frontline to working alongside her colleagues on AOS, Jo is well-loved and a fantastic police officer and human being," says Stu.
Since moving to Gisborne, the couple have embraced the lifestyle that first attracted them to the region.
And when they are not working, you can often find them and their whānau in the water – surfing and enjoying the coastline that has become part of their everyday lives.