Let's catch up!

Where are they now? Award winners from Recruit Wings 329, 332 and 364 tell us how their careers are going…

Constable Angel-Gene Maynard has been involved with many workgroups since graduating from Wing 329 in 2019 with the Commissioner’s Award for Leadership.

She’s currently working on PST in Tairāwhiti, Eastern District.

“It was an absolute honour to be chosen to be the leadership award recipient,” says Angel-Gene (Rongowhakaata, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Tūhoe).

“I had many reasons for joining Police but one that is important to me is being a great role model for children. In particular it’s the Māori kids I resonate with, those who’ve endured trauma or abuse growing up.

“I’m fortunate I’ve had siblings and parents who have worked with children and young people in different professions, so I just want to help where I can and have a positive influence on Māori kids so they too can be the change.”

Reflecting now on the award, she thinks it was a testament to how her parents and whānau raised her.

She strives to live by her values and ethics and have integrity in everything she does.

“For me, it’s just about being a decent person.

“I always try and lead by example, no matter what role I'm in, and have a little fun along the way. If you’re considering joining Police, work hard and hold yourself accountable and it will pay off in the end.”

Kate van Dillen as a member of Wing 332, and Detective Constable Kate in 2025.

Detective Constable Kate van Dillen graduated in 2019 in wing 332, earning the Patron’s Award for Second in Wing in the process. 

Six years later she’s enjoying a career “where you can truly make a difference and build strong relationships with your team and community”.

Kate was genuinely surprised to hear that she had won an award - her focus during college had been simply to learn and develop her skills.

“I was deployed to Wellington and am still based at Wellington Central, but I am now in the CIB General Squad as a detective constable, having just come from the Child Protection Team.

“I’m not sure where I will go from here as I’m enjoying what I’m doing at the moment.

“The rotation system as a detective constable within the Wellington CIB offers a great opportunity to gain experience across a number of different workgroups.”

She says she really enjoyed working on the Child Protection Team and making a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities.

“Joining the CIB has been the best decision for my own development, I’ve already learnt so much and it has significantly expanded my policing and investigative skillset.

“Policing is a challenging but highly rewarding career. It offers a wide range of opportunities and you can be guaranteed that no two days are the same, ever.”

Recruit Christian Merten in 2023, and the frontline cop in 2025.

If you’d have told Constable Christian Merten he would win a prize at Police College he’d have been surprised. So when he won two…

Christian graduated with not only the Defensive Tactics and Physical Training Prize, but also the top prize, the Minister’s Award for First in Wing.

“I was absolutely stoked to receive the awards,” he says.

“When I think back to my wing, there were some amazing people coming through Police College with me who I think were incredibly deserving – and they’re already going far in their policing careers now.”

Christian graduated from the Viv Rickard 364 Wing in 2023 and is serving in Wellington District.

“I don’t have any solid plans on where I want to go yet,” he says. “I’ve spent some time with Road Policing and Beat Section. I've just started as a Field Training Officer on PST.

'For the foreseeable future I’d like to stay on the frontline as I believe that being a solid frontline police officer is the cornerstone of any other role.”

He holds Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws degrees and worked as a lawyer, specialising in family, privacy and employment law, before deciding to join Police.

“If any of my friends were considering joining, I’d tell them just to do it,” he says.

“Police has something for absolutely everyone, whether it’s working with youth and schools, Search and Rescue, tactical teams, family harm, CIB, or enjoying policing as I am, as frontline on the Public Safety Team.”