ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
For the last time in 2020, a batch of new constables prepared to join their districts. Recruit Wing 342 graduated in mid-December from the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC), adding 59 to the 500 constables who had already joined the front line during 2020.
The year saw Police pass the landmark of 10,000 officers; it also saw training significantly challenged by COVID-19, with some wings unable to invite loved ones to graduation. But there was a lively full house at the RNZPC as Wing 342 proudly paraded in front of Commissioner Andrew Coster, Police Minister Poto Williams and others to mark the end of initial training. Wing 342 members were a diverse lot. A number were born in India, with others from South Africa, Samoa, Singapore, Ireland and the UK. As well as English, members speak Mandarin, Tongan, Samoan, Afrikaans, Hindi and Punjabi.
It’s people like Constable Harmanjot Singh who are worth their weight in gold to Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ). Originally from India and speaking Hindi and Punjabi, Harmanjot has volunteered for CPNZ in Queenstown and Tauranga and it was while working on jobs with Police that he thought, “Why can’t I be the one in that uniform? Why can’t I be a police officer and help and support the community?” His questions are now answered, thanks in part to the support and encouragement he received from the officers at Queenstown Police Station during his Police application process. Harmanjot is posted back to Southern District.
For the last time in 2020, a batch of new constables prepared to join their districts. Recruit Wing 342 graduated in mid-December from the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC), adding 59 to the 500 constables who had already joined the front line during 2020.
The year saw Police pass the...
For the last time in 2020, a batch of new constables prepared to join their districts. Recruit Wing 342 graduated in mid-December from the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC), adding 59 to the 500 constables who had already joined the front line during 2020.
The year saw Police pass the landmark of 10,000 officers; it also saw training significantly challenged by COVID-19, with some wings unable to invite loved ones to graduation. But there was a lively full house at the RNZPC as Wing 342 proudly paraded in front of Commissioner Andrew Coster, Police Minister Poto Williams and others to mark the end of initial training. Wing 342 members were a diverse lot. A number were born in India, with others from South Africa, Samoa, Singapore, Ireland and the UK. As well as English, members speak Mandarin, Tongan, Samoan, Afrikaans, Hindi and Punjabi.
It’s people like Constable Harmanjot Singh who are worth their weight in gold to Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ). Originally from India and speaking Hindi and Punjabi, Harmanjot has volunteered for CPNZ in Queenstown and Tauranga and it was while working on jobs with Police that he thought, “Why can’t I be the one in that uniform? Why can’t I be a police officer and help and support the community?” His questions are now answered, thanks in part to the support and encouragement he received from the officers at Queenstown Police Station during his Police application process. Harmanjot is posted back to Southern District.
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