NZ Police leads by example in diversity recruitment
Consider this: Of the 60 new constables that graduated from the Royal New Zealand Police College last week [from Wing 317], 38 percent are females, 19 officers were born overseas and between them speak around a dozen foreign languages. The youngest recruit is 19 and the oldest is 45. One has the distinction of playing in the Ranfurly Shield-winning Hawke’s Bay rugby team, another is a fine musician who has performed with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. There are former members of the armed forces and others who have done valuable volunteer work in the Fire Service, Search and Rescue teams, surf lifesaving and for Women’s Refuge.
Noting this was Police Minister Stuart Nash, who said, “I am delighted with the talent and diversity of Wing 317. We are fortunate to have new recruits who reflect the diversity and character of the wider New Zealand population.”
Meanwhile, the new graduates will be deployed from Northland to Southland, with the largest single allocation of 12 officers going to Canterbury.
“Earlier this week the Commissioner of Police confirmed the allocation of 1800 extra officers. Each graduation ceremony is another step towards that goal. In addition we are funding an extra 485 back office support staff,” added the minister.
He was referring to the earlier announcement by the Commissioner of Police of increased officer numbers of between 13 and 27 percent across twelve policing districts, based on factors like population growth, offending patterns and local priorities for crime prevention.
So Northland will see a massive 25 per cent increase in Police numbers; provincial towns throughout Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki Whanganui and Manawatu gain between 17 and 27 percent more officers. And 264 new officers will be stationed in rural and urban towns throughout the South Island.
Meanwhile as reported by RadioNZ recently, NZ Police are appointing a new ethnic strategic advisor in Auckland, who will be of inspector level.