It’s a big step when you first join your district. Here Probationary Constable Kristen Tahau, who has just started on section in Tairawhiti, Eastern District, shares her first impressions after a few weeks in the job.
I applied to join Police after serving 18 months in the Navy and graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College with Recruit Wing 297 in June this year.
I’m from northern Hawke’s Bay but during the recruitment process I was living in Otorohanga, in Waikato. I went on a fair few ride-alongs with the local police, and then SCOPE - which is work experience before you go to Police College - in Napier, near where I grew up.
I was posted to Eastern District but at that stage the District Field Training Unit (FTU) wasn’t up and running so I spent my first five weeks in Wellington with the FTU, before moving to Gisborne at the start of August.
I figured that a city like Gisborne would be able to teach me a lot in my first few years - I didn’t want to go to a metropolitan centre because the farm girl in me needs space!
I’ve been really busy with a huge variety of the sort of ‘business as usual’ jobs police everywhere do. Here we often follow an incident right through from the initial call to resolution, which is fantastic for a newbie like me in terms of gaining experience of policing.
My section spends a bit of time together outside of work and I really enjoy the gentle banter. It’s really cool that we can laugh about 90 percent of the situations that we find ourselves in.
There’s an awesome camaraderie among the frontline staff here and, no matter what section people are on, if I need help all I have to do is ask. Everyone is willing to help.
So far, my favourite thing to do outside of work is sleep as I’m still adjusting to shift work.
I enjoy getting out for a run most days and recently found a childhood friend is living locally so we go out for a horse ride when we can. I’m yet to properly check out the beaches - but from what I’ve seen driving past them, I can’t wait for summer to hit!
So far I have met some pretty awesome people both inside Police and out. I absolutely love the work here.
Our pictures show Kristen with section mates, from left, Constables Josh Calles and Eru Rawiri. Photos: Senior Sergeant Lincoln Sycamore.