Seventy-nine new constables will join their friends and family in celebrating their graduation at The Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) this week.
Commissioner Mike Bush, other members of the Police Executive, Hon Stuart Nash and wing patron Dame Annette King will also be present at the ceremony on Thursday 17 January.
Dame Annette brought decades of leadership experience to her mentorship of Wing 322. She is a former politician who has worked at a senior level of Government over many years, retiring in 2017 as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. She was a Cabinet Minister for 10 years holding 15 portfolios, including as Minister of Police for 3 years.
Aged between 18 and 50, Wing 322 began their studies at RNZPC in September and come from varied backgrounds.
Wing mates, award winners and brothers – in and out of the blue uniform – who will support each other as they traverse their police careers are new Constables Joshua and Riki Kauika.
Joshua previously served in the New Zealand Navy as a naval clearance diver and on occasion has worked with Police to perform search and rescue operations and recoveries. Joshua was awarded the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award for physical training and defensive tactics skills.
Riki has taken a rather different pathway – via the golf course – on his journey to Police. As an amateur golf player he represented New Zealand over several years, and has also tried out a professional golf career. Riki was awarded the Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award for driving skills and safe road policing practices.
Joshua will be working in Northland District and Riki will be deployed to Central District.
Another talented new police officer is Constable Gareth Fleming. Gareth has been a New Zealand recording artist since 1997 and has released two number 1 gold and platinum selling albums with groups Blindspott and Blacklistt. He has toured New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia numerous times.
“Joining Police has been a life-long dream for me, but until now other commitments have been a priority. I have lived in many areas in West Auckland and have seen the best and the worst of them. I would love to become a part of a positive change in the high crime areas.”
Gareth will be working in Waitematā District.
Nine of the new constables have worked for Police either directly before their recruit training or further in the past. For Constable Lisa Barber, working in the Police Wellness and Safety team gave her a taste for policing. She is someone who has always given a lot of her time to the community.
““I have always believed that if we can we should help other people through life as much as possible, but I also get an amazing sense of personal satisfaction from doing this. Working for the Police gives me an opportunity to get this purpose and meaningfulness from my day-to-day job, as well as experience the variety, adventure, camaraderie and a fantastic career.”
Lisa has volunteered for the Starship Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Youthline, and the Christchurch Hospital Children’s Haematology and Oncology Centre. During her university studies she volunteered at the Dunedin Volunteer Centre, and she has started training to be a Civil Defence and LandSAR volunteer. Her dog is a recently qualified therapy dog.
Lisa also found time to enter garments that were finalists in the World of Wearable Arts (WOW) show in consecutive years, firstly in 2009 (Back to Nature, by Bronwyn Knutson and Lisa Barber, the garment was also featured in the 2018 show) and then in 2010 in the Bizarre Bra section. “Icebergs, was a bra I made with my mum and sister.”
Lisa has been posted to Wellington District.
Many of the wing’s constables speak fluently an array of languages, such as te reo Māori, Korean, Mandarin, Tongan, Niuean, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, French, German and Afrikaans, reflecting the wing’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
Awards
Minister’s Award recognising top student – Constable Jodi Burton (Northland)
Patron’s Award, recognising second top student – Constable Logan Jackson (Waikato)
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership – Constable Mary-Jane Ale (Counties-Manukau)
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award – Constable Joshua Kauika (Northland)
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award – Constable Riki Kauika (Central)
Firearms Award – Constable Logan Jackson (Waikato)
Deployment information
The new constables will have a one-week break before starting duties in their districts. The wing is being dispersed as follows:
Northland – 5
Waitemata – 11
Auckland – 8
Counties Manukau – 6
Waikato – 7
Bay of Plenty – 7
Eastern – 5
Central – 6
Wellington – 9
Tasman – 3
Canterbury – 6
Southern – 6
Media
Media are welcome to attend the Graduation Parade which takes place at The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua. The ceremony starts at 1.30pm on Thursday. Any media wishing to attend the graduation should contact the Police Media Centre by 8pm Wednesday at media@police.govt.nz.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
