For the first time in 44 years, a graduation ceremony took place in Auckland today for police recruits trained in the City of Sails.
For decades, recruits from around New Zealand have been shipped to the Wellington region for training, attending the 16-week residential course at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua.
The 20 who graduated today instead split driving, firearms, and defensive and tactical classes between Unitec and the North Shore policing centre. They were able to commute to training each day, living in their own homes.
Inspector Iain Saunders said in April, when the pilot programme was announced, that it was the result of direct feedback from potential recruits — many who said moving to Wellington for four months was a real barrier to joining New Zealand Police, particularly those with young children.
"We are really keen to see if this initiative can assist us in increasing our numbers by reducing some of the barriers preventing those who would make excellent police officers from joining up," he said.
For the first time wanna-be cops will be able to learn the trade in Wellington, instead of training college in Porirua. (Source: Other)
Police Minister Stuart Nash lauded the programme today as a "generational shift" in police recruitment, which has been at the top of mind for the coalition Government since promising in October to add 1800 new officers to the rolls over three years.
Counting today's graduation. 688 new frontline officers have been deployed, Mr Nash said.
Mr Nash recalled the last time recruits trained in Auckland - a time when colour TV and a law requiring equal pay for women in the private sector had just been introduced.
"The Police recruits of the early 1970s were trained at a former teachers college at Ardmore in South Auckland," he said in a statement.
"The Auckland wing was a response to requests from the Mayor Sir Dove Myer Robinson who was concerned at rising crime, much of it gang-related, in our biggest city."
Seventy-eight new officers for our biggest city were sworn in today. (Source: Other)
But today's class was a far cry from 40 years ago, he added.
"The changing demographics of Auckland compared to 1974 are also evident in the diversity of the new constables," he explained.
"Thirty per cent identify as Asian New Zealanders. Seven were born overseas and speak languages including Italian, Korean, Japanese and Chinese."
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