Families and friends celebrated alongside newly certified police officers at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua this morning to see 57 new officers parade after their initial police training.

Twelve of the 57 graduates joined the police because they already had whānau in policing as constables, sergeants, senior sergeants, detectives and one as transport minister.

Constable Alexandra Baskin knew she wanted to become a police officer since she was seven years old. His paternal great-grandfather, George Baskin, was a police officer in Ireland and New Zealand, and on his mother’s side, his great-grandfather, Fred Hackett, was Minister of Transport from 1947 to 1949.

Alex said: “It has been an honor and privilege to train for something I have wanted for so long and I am excited to embark on my new career as a police officer. »

Constable Baskin will be based in Bay of Plenty.

From cooking fries to arresting guys, that’s the career journey of award-winning Constable Andre Matson. The Wellington-bound officer was a former McDonald’s fast food restaurant employee and had completed an engineering degree before joining the police force.

He said: “Today is the start of our journey with the New Zealand Police, but for all of us who have graduated, many people have sacrificed and worked very hard to enable us to be here, and we are very grateful to them. We couldn’t have done it without you – thank you.

As the grand prize winner of the wing, Constable Andre Matson was presented with the korowai to wear in the parade by Commissioner Tania Kura.

Commissioner’s Leadership Award recipient Etham Holtz, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, was previously a carpet and vinyl fitter before deciding to join the police force. Etham thanked his wingmates: “I am very humbled – every accomplishment I have achieved is a direct result of the support, guidance and teamwork of each of you.

We have all joined a proud organization and committed to our core values ​​and principles. Policing is a whanau that embraces our differences and highlights our individual and collective strengths.

He also thanked his patron Zion Armstrong.

“Hearing your story changed me and it’s amazing to see how one police officer changed the trajectory of your life.

I want to be that police officer in my community. As Wing 379, we will be those police officers for our communities.

Constable Holtz will begin his career in Northland.

All rewards:
Minister’s Award for Best Student: Constable Andre Matson, assigned to the Wellington District.
Wing Runner-Up Patron’s Award, recognizing the second best student: Constable Kieran Ball, posted to the Canterbury District.
Commissioner’s Leadership Award: Etham Holtz, Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, posted to Northland District.
Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Ameliane Nolier Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa and Tainui, is assigned to the Central District.
Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Jarrod Morrissey, Te Rarawa, is posted to the Counties Manukau District.
Firearms Award: Constable Callum Clark, assigned to the Counties Manukau District.

Deployment:
The new officers will begin their first day of duty in their police districts the week of Monday, November 25, 2024 and will continue their on-the-job training as probationary officers.
Northland 6, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 20 and distributed as follows: Auckland 1, Waitematā – 5, Counties Manukau – 14, Waikato – 3, Bay of Plenty – 6, Eastern – 3, Central – 3, Wellington – 9, Tasman – 2, Canterbury – 2, South – 3.

Demographics:
26.9 percent are women and 73.1 percent are men.

New Zealand Europeans make up 55.5 percent of the wing, Māori 21.5 percent, Pasifika 10.5 percent, Asians 7 percent, LAAM 1.9 percent and others 3, 6 percent.

Boss of the 379th Wing
Zion Armstrong is a successful and highly regarded business executive and former athlete. As an athlete, Zion became New Zealand champion and record holder in the 400m hurdles and represented New Zealand at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Through his ties to athletics, he began working in the sportswear industry at the age of 16.

Zion then joined Adidas, where he rose through the company ranks working in Germany, Hong Kong, South Korea and the United States before being named president of Adidas North America.
Zion’s life could have taken a very different path without the help of a Kiwi policeman and athletics coach (the late Ross Dallow – father of Wing 376 boss Simon Dallow) who showed him a different path .

Zion never forgot the impact of his first mentor, and throughout his career he always worked to help anyone who asked. During his two decades overseas, and now back in New Zealand since 2022, he has used his Māori and Pacific values ​​to connect and empower teams, foster a diverse and inclusive culture and develop talent.

He believes that if you put people first, results will always follow.