From frosty starts to jump test fun and a side of caped crusaders, Police’s dedicated recruitment stand proved a popular attraction at this year’s National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
This year’s visitor numbers for the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere topped 132,000 through the gates in the four days from June 10-13 – the largest turnout in recent years.
Police were on site to provide safety and reassurance during the annual agribusiness and innovation showcase, and this year New Zealand Police added a dedicated stand for recruitment and engagement attracting thousands of visitors during the event.
Equipped with a bespoke fleet including a quad bike, electric BMW and cinema-car, alongside the jump and grip test, the stand - hosted by Waikato District with support from Counties Manukau and national recruitment staff - was buzzing with young and old alike.
With the event’s total crowd numbers 20 per cent up on last year, attendees were cheerful and in good spirits, enjoying the sights under sunny skies, says Waikato District Recruitment Lead Senior Sergeant Craig Bates.
People interested in joining Police or learning more about the pathway had all the information at hand and staff to step them through the process. More than 50 people completed expressions of interest at the event, while many others took away valuable information and links to sign up.
“All of our staff at the stand did an outstanding job,” says Craig.
“They were engaging and professional in a way that entertained the crowds. It wouldn’t have worked so well without them.
“There were also lots of families that came by the stand. These sorts of events help us to connect with the community and encourage the next generation to consider a career with Police when they grow up.”
Between 29,000 and 38,000 people came through the gates daily, and Police's recruitment stand attracted hundreds of people from Christchurch, Wellington, Taranaki, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Waikato daily.
“We were pleased with the amount of general interest in the Police site,” says Craig.
“Everyone was positive and there were a lot of laughs and smiles on people’s faces.”
Dedicated Fieldays social media content published across Police channels reached more than 700,000 post impressions, further boosting Police’s presence at the event and enhancing the reach of public safety messaging.
Even Batman stopped by the recruitment stand to walk the beat alongside Assistant Commissioner Jeanette Park and Inspector Andrew Mortimore, demonstrating the power of visible uniformed policing in deterring and preventing crime.
Police Recruitment Director Kate Milburn says the turnout exceeded expectations.
“We were really excited about the opportunity to run a recruitment activation at Fieldays to promote the benefits of a career in policing to an engaged and engaging crowd, and the welcome we received ensures that we will be back!”
Outside of the dedicated police site, Waikato West Prevention Teams, road policing staff and diplomatic protection officers were on the ground to ensure public safety in and around the venue across the four days.
Impairment Prevention Teams also joined New Zealand Police partners NZTA in a dedicated road safety display to educate drivers on the dangers of impairment and distraction.
Waikato West Area Commander Inspector Andrew Mortimore says the event was well run operationally with high visibility, prevention and recruitment all enhancing Police’s presence across the event.
“We received really positive feedback from both the public and Fieldays staff about Police’s presence at the event," he says. "With such large crowd numbers, the numbers of staff worked well to allow us to respond to any eventuation.”