Graduating Constables Boost Numbers In The Upper North Island

New Zealand Police National News Release

6 September 2006

Fifty-six constables will join the New Zealand Police tomorrow, strengthening staff numbers in the upper North Island.

Of the twenty-one constables posted to Auckland district; twelve will be stationed in Auckland City; four will be stationed in North Shore-Waitakere and five will be stationed in Counties Manukau. An additional seven officers will be posted to Hamilton (4) and Northland (3).

"These new officers will be a welcome relief to their colleagues in this busy part of the country," says Training Commander Superintendent Alistair Beckett.

This year, 187 graduating constables have already been positioned in the greater Auckland region.

The constables in Wing 232 have come to Police from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, nationalities and occupations. Before entering the Police several recruits had worked in a military capacity either in the Navy or the Army.

- 56 recruits will graduate - 43 males and 13 females

- The average age of wing members is 26 (the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 41)

The graduation will take place on Thursday 7 September at 2:00pm.

Postings:

Northland - Whangarei (2), KeriKeri (1)

North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney - Henderson (1), Takapuna (3)

Auckland City - (3), Glenn Innes (1), Balmoral (2), Pukekohe (1), Howick (1), Mount Wellington (2), Avondale (2)

Counties Manukau - Manurewa (2), Papakura (2), Henderson (1)

Waikato - Hamilton (4)

Bay of Plenty - Taupo (2), Tauranga (1)

Central - Rotorua (2), Wanganui (2)

Eastern - Hawke's Bay (3), Whakatane (1), Gisborne (1)

Wellington - Wellington (3), Lower Hutt (1), Upper Hutt (3), Porirua (1) Masterton (2)

Canterbury - Christchurch (4)

Southern - Dunedin (2)

Wing 231 prize winners:

- Minister's Prize for First in Wing was awarded to Constable Hamish URQUHART posted to Hastings.

Constable URQUHART was also awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize.

- Commissioner-s Prize for Second in Wing was awarded to Constable Jonathan MITCHELL posted to Takapuna.

Constable MITCHELL was also awarded the Ericsson Practical Prize (Overall winner for Practical Assessments, Skills Files & Fingerprinting).

- Patron's Prize for Third in Wing was awarded to Constable Antony SEARLE posted to Takapuna.

- The Holden Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) was awarded to Constable David FRANSHAM posted to Howick.

- The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award was awarded to Constable Hayden BONNY posted to Wellington.

- The Driver Training Award was awarded to Constable Carmen TUPARA, posted to Christchurch.

- The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training was awarded to Constable Aaron MARSTERS posted to Avondale.

Police Association prizes for section achievement:

This prize is awarded to an individual from each section who, in the collective view of the members of the section and the wing instructors, made the greatest contribution to the overall success of the team.

Section One Constable Christopher KEREKERE posted to Rotorua

Section Two Constable Kenneth HAREMA posted to Whangarei

Section Three Constable Shane McCORMACK posted to Rotorua

Wing Patron: Father Des Britten

Culinary virtuoso and TV chef, Des Britten became a household name in New Zealand with his highly popular cooking show in the 1970s. Since then, he has opened a number of highly esteemed restaurants, toured the world as a food ambassador for NZ dairy and meat products, and spent 14 years writing food reviews for the Dominion Post. He has been head of the Wellington City Mission since 1994, where he works to improve the lives of the less fortunate and less well-off. He is particularly proud of the Mission for Youth programme, which works with at-risk young people to help them towards a better future.

ENDS

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