Friends and family members from all over New Zealand celebrated with their loved ones at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua today, when Wing 392 graduated from their initial course.
Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Pannett addressed the wing alongside members of the police executive and wing patron, Raelene Castle, Ngāpuhi ONZM.
“Once you’re in your district and in your community, you will be focusing on being visible, reassuring and responsive. Through this you will deliver on our mission – to prevent crime and harm.
I want you to think about the privileged position you will be in as you go about that work.
You will be in other people’s homes, lives and situations, dealing with people who are at their most vulnerable so it is vital that you uphold the Police Values throughout your work and be the best you can be. Congratulations to you all."
The top award winner for the wing, former Royal New Zealand Airforce Aircraft Technician, Constable Joel Fraser is excited to be heading to Bay of Plenty District to start his new career. He also won the award for Firearms Skills and Safe Practices.
“Joining police has always been a lifelong goal for me. The journey hasn’t been easy, but the training has shown me just how much I am capable of. I feel confident and excited to step into the job and make my family and community proud.”
Leadership Award Winner, Constable Wilem Tipene, Ngāpuhi is thrilled with his success and spoke to the wing at the end of the ceremony.
"My favourite part of being at college has been looking back on my time here and seeing the character built amongst wing members and the values everyone has adopted to uphold in each of our communities.”
Wilem will also be based in Bay of Plenty.
Deployment:
The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on the week beginning Monday 16 February 2026 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.
Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 32 and broken down into the three districts: Auckland City 15, Waitematā 6, Counties Manukau 11, Waikato 10, Bay of Plenty 8, Eastern 2, Central 6, Wellington 7, Tasman 1, Canterbury 11, Southern 11.
All Awards:
Minister’s Award recognising top student and the award for Firearms Skills and Safe Practices: Constable Joel Fraser posted to Bay of Plenty District.
Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Wilem Tipene posted to Bay of Plenty District.
Patron’s Award for second top student: Constable Joshua Kellett posted to Southern District.
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Caitlin Oliver posted to Bay of Plenty District.
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Aiden Toder posted to Wellington District.
Demographics:
18.0 percent are female, 82.0 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 65.2 percent of the wing, with Māori 6.7 percent, Pasifika 7.9 percent, Asian 16.9 percent, LAAM 3.4 percent.
Patron:
Raelene Castle, Ngāpuhi is the Group Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). She joined HPSNZ in December 2020 and was appointed Group Chief Executive in April 2022. Before this, she spent seven years working in Australia as Chief Executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and then Chief Executive of Rugby Australia. She was previously Chief Executive of Netball New Zealand from 2007 to 2013.
Before beginning her career in sports administration, Raelene built a successful corporate career in communications, sales and marketing. This included general management and other senior roles at Telecom New Zealand (now Spark), Bank of New Zealand and Fuji Xerox.
Raelene has held several governance roles in sport, previously serving as a board director of the ANZ Championship Netball, International Federations of Netball Associations, SANZAAR Rugby and the World Rugby Council.
She also has a rich sporting background as a former representative-level netball, tennis and lawn bowls player. Raelene was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2015 for services to business and sport.
Watch out for our Ten One graduation story coming soon with more images and details.
If you’re interested in joining police, you can find out more on www.newcops.govt.nz
Issued by Police Media Centre
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