Police Recruits An Inspiration To Pacific Youth

New Zealand Police National News Release

27 June 2007

Seventy-two new police officers will graduate from The Royal New Zealand Police College this Thursday in Wing 240. The wing's patron is Ian Grant, founder of Parents Inc.

In their final week at the RNZPC, with exams behind them, five Pacific Island recruits played host to the presenter and film crew of Pacific Beat St, a magazine style show broadcast on both TV3 and Maori Television Service.

The show is aimed at the Pacific youth audience and the recruits enjoyed giving an insight to policing as a career option. They showed the crew around the college, pointing out where they have been spending their time for the last 19 weeks.

They also gave a lively commentary prefacing specific training scenarios and demonstrated their skills for the camera. The recruits gave a personal perspective of what it has been like going through training to become constables in the NZ Police. The programme will be shown on Saturday 21 July, 11.30am on TV3 and 8pm on MTS.

During their 19-weeks at the Police College, the men and women of wing 240 have benefited from valuable field experience. In April, the recruits helped to canvass the Upper Hutt community after a man was killed in a stabbing incident arising from an attempted robbery involving drugs. One of the recruits spoke to a witness who had found an item connected to the incident.

The graduation will take place at The Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday 28 June at 2:00pm and will be attended by Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope.

* 72 recruits will graduate - 53 males and 19 females

* The average age of wing members is 30 (the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 46)

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

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District postings:

Northland - Kerikeri (1), Whangarei (4)

Waitematâ - Henderson (6), North Shore Policing Centre (7)

Auckland City - Auckland Central (5), Mt Wellington (3), Balmoral (3)

Counties Manukau - Manurewa (1), Otahuhu (5), Papakura (4), Pukekohe (1)

Waikato - Hamilton (6), Thames (1), Te Awamutu (1)

Bay of Plenty - Rotorua (2), Tauranga (3), Taupo (1), Whakatane

Eastern - Wairoa (1)

Central - Hawera (1), Wanganui (2), Palmerston North (3)

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

Canterbury - Timaru (1)

Southern - Dunedin (3), Invercargill (1)

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Wing 240 prize winners:

• The Minister's Prize for First in Wing will be awarded to Constable Miranda COOPER-GRUNDY posted to Upper Hutt.

Constable Cooper-Grundy will also be awarded the ERICSSON Practical Prize (Overall winner for practical assessments, file preparation and fingerprinting).

• The Commissioner's Prize for Second in Wing will be awarded to Constable Larnie SMITH posted to North Shore Road Policing Centre.

• The Patron's Prize for Third in Wing will be awarded to Constable Jill FERGUSON posted to Auckland Central.

Constable Ferguson will also be awarded the International Police Association Academic Prize (for overall academic achievement).

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

• The Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award will be awarded to Constable Jonathon YUILE posted to Wairoa.

• The Meltzer Prize for Weapon Training will be awarded to Constable Jaon BORICH posted to Henderson.

• The Driver Training Award will be awarded to Constable Nicholas JAMES posted to Palmerston North.

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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 Richard CLAY posted to Te Awamutu

Section Two:Constable Robyn KENNERLEY posted to Auckland Central

Section Three:Constable Stephen NEEDHAM posted to Henderson

Section Four:Constable Richard TUPOU posted to Balmoral

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Wing Patron: Ian Grant

Ian Grant led Youth for Christ, an organisation involving thousands of teenagers in weekly club programmes, camps and large youth events, for 33 years before establishing Parents Inc (formerly Parenting with Confidence).

Ian grew up in Naenae, Wellington, the son of a hard-working Scotsman, who he says struggled to come to grips with being a father, and a devoted mother who never stopped believing in him. Already a household name fronting the popular television show The Herd, he says it dawned on him one day that teenage problems are really parent problems, explaining his change in focus.

Ian set up Parents Inc with his wife Mary in 1993. This not-for-profit organisation provides support and tips to parents through various parenting seminars, parenting resources and relationship courses. It also runs teenage life skills programmes in schools and is planning a purpose-built parenting centre in Greenlane.

He has authored the New Zealand best seller Fathers Who Dare Win and Growing Great Boys, and is admired for his creativity and innovation in programming for young people and for his fresh approach to parenting.

Ian's wife Mary is the creative director of Parents Inc and is involved in preparing many of their publications and resources. She is also the author of Cappuccino Moments for Mothers.

ENDS

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