New Minister Of Police To Attend Her First Recruit Graduation

New Zealand Police National News Release

10 December 2008

The new Minister of Police, Hon Judith Collins, will address seventy-eight new police officers and their families when she attends their graduation from the Royal NZ Police College tomorrow. Recruit wing 254 is the latest wing to complete the 19-week Police training course and has had former cricketing international Martin Snedden as their Wing Patron. (see below for more information about Martin Snedden)

Most new police officers join the Police looking for a complete change from their previous career or study. Graduating constable Saurabh Taneja says he is looking forward to the variety policing offers and is motivated by the thought that in his new career "every day, even every hour, could be different."

Constable Taneja has a Bachelor's degree in Aviation and holds a commercial pilot licence. After graduating from Ardmore Flying School he worked in a call centre. A week during his training spent on station duty elicited plenty of excitement as he attended many call-outs with his future colleagues, including pursuits and an armed incident.

Before beginning the recruiting process applicants are encouraged to spend 40 hours at their local police station, 'scoping out' whether they are suited to policing as a career. During his 'SCOPE', Saurabh was able to act as translator for an Indian woman who had come to the police station needing assistance. For him this was further confirmation of his choice. Constable Taneja has won the ACADEMIC PRIZE awarded to the recruit who has the highest marks in the three academic exams during the course. He is posted to Henderson.

Constable Aaron Wynyard has given 20 years service to the NZ Navy, with overseas deployments to Bougainville, the Arabian Gulf and Timor Lesté. Three years after leaving the Navy, Aaron found he missed the structure the Navy had provided and decided he was now ready to follow his long-time wish to become a policeman.

An old boy of Te Aute Mâori Boys College, Aaron says he is bothered by the number of young Mâori caught up in the criminal justice system and wants to be able to inspire some of them to achieve their goals and keep out of gaol. He doesn't like the term 'role-model' but feels he could help young Maori through good communication and being visible in his community.

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The graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 11 December 2008 at 2:00pm and will be attended by the Minister of Police Hon Judith Collins and Deputy Commissioner Lyn Provost.

• 78 recruits will graduate - 62 males and 16 females• The average age of wing members is 29 (the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 45)

To find out more about joining the Police, phone: 0800 NEW COPS (639 2677) or visit: www.newcops.co.nz

District postings:

Northland - Kaikohe (1)

Waitematâ - Henderson (5), North Shore Policing Centre (3), Orewa (2)

Auckland City - Mt Wellington (6), Newmarket (1), Strategic Traffic Unit (3), CBA (1)

Counties Manukau - Otahuhu (3), Manurewa (3), Mobile Police Station (4)

Waikato - Hamilton (7), Huntly (1), Te Awamutu (1), Waihi (2)

Bay of Plenty - Whakatane (1), Tokoroa (1)

Eastern - Napier (2), Hastings (2)

Wellington - Wellington (6), Lower Hutt (1), Kapiti-Mana (4), Traffic Alcohol Group (2), Upper Hutt (1)

Tasman - Nelson (1), Greymouth (2), Blenheim (2)

Canterbury - Christchurch (2), Timaru (2)

Southern - Invercargill (4), Queenstown (2)

Wing 254 prize winners:

• The Minister's Prize for FIRST in Wing will be awarded to Constable Samuel WINCHESTER, posted to Timaru. Constable Winchester has also won the Driver Training Award.

• The Commissioner's Prize for SECOND in Wing will be awarded to Constable Timothy HAAKMA, posted to Wellington.

• The Patron's Prize for THIRD in Wing will be awarded to Constable Simon TOOMER, posted to Manurewa.

• The INTERNATIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION Academic Prize (for overall academic achievement) will be awarded to Constable Saurabh TANEJA, posted to Henderson.

• The ERICSSON Practical Prize for the overall winner of practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting will be awarded to Constable Malcolm HUNTER, posted to Napier.

• The HOLDEN Tactical Skills and Safety Prize (overall winner in defensive tactics, firearms and driving) will be awarded to Constable Matthew BARRACLOUGH, posted to Wellington.

• The INTERGRAPH Computer Skills Prize for the overall winner in Computer Studies will be awarded to Constable Wing KAM, posted to Auckland City.

• The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award will be presented to Constable Joshua FRENCH, posted to Manurewa.

• The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training will be awarded to Constable Jeremy HOLMES, posted to Mt Wellington.

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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 Aaron DEMPSEY, posted to Invercargill

Section Two Constable Anthony HODGSON, posted to Hamilton

Section Three Constable James MOLLOY, posted to Te Awamutu

Section Four Constable Nicole PEEBLES, posted to Auckland City

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Wing patron, Martin Snedden

Martin Snedden is the Chief Executive Officer of Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011) - the organisation responsible for planning and delivering the Rugby World Cup 2011 tournament in New Zealand on behalf of its shareholders, the NZ Rugby Union and the NZ Government. Before this, he was Chief Executive Officer of New Zealand Cricket from April 2001 to May 2007.

Martin has had a distinguished international cricketing career, playing 25 test matches and 93 One-Day International appearances for New Zealand between 1980 and 1990. He competed at both the 1983 and 1987 World Cup as part of the New Zealand Black Caps Cricket Team.

Martin comes from a strong cricketing family. His grandfather, Nessie Snedden, played for New Zealand between 1914 and 1923, captaining the team towards the end of his career. Martin's uncle, Colin, also played test cricket for New Zealand, and his father, Warwick, played first class cricket for Auckland.

Martin also has a background in rugby, which included being captain of his school First XV and representing Auckland at U19 and U21 grade levels.

He worked as a lawyer in his family's law firm in Auckland from 1981 to 2001.

ENDS

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