As opposition parties criticise the governments effort to put more Police on the streets, a group of 74 fresh recruits graduated from Wing 384 on Thursday.
Commissioner Richard Chambers, members of the police executive and wing patron former police assistant commissioner, Allan Boreham were on hand to congratulate the new officers.
Also attending the graduation and presenting a prize in absence of the Minister of Police was her worship Anita Baker, the Mayor of Porirua.
Families and friends celebrated the newly attested police officers at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua this afternoon to acknowledge the successful completion of their initial training course.
There are some likeminded individuals in the wing with 11 of the graduates having family members currently working in police.
Four graduating officers made the change from non-constabulary roles to police officers.
The wing is very diverse with eighteen recruits speaking more than one language and 19 recruits who were born overseas. The top prize winner was born and raised in France.
Top of wing, Constable Diane Aspalvo is a French-trained and certified clinical psychologist. She has worked as a psychologist in Paris and in Tairawhiti New Zealand before deciding to join the New Zealand Police.
She previously volunteered for the French Army as a reserve after a call-up for national security due to the terrorist attacks in France in 2015. She is a keen swimmer, skier and is also into CrossFit.
“I decided to join the New Zealand Police at 41 years old, so I am a living proof that it is never too late to achieve your dreams.”
Diane will be deployed to Eastern District.
Second Top Award winner Constable Hunta Sutherland, Ngāti Kuia is also a sporting talent, representing her district, Tasman, in football up to high school level.
Not only is she a ‘Golden Boot’ winner for the most goals scored in a regional competition (39), she’s into running track, cross country, and road races with many podium finishes. Hunta has worked as a teacher’s aide with troubled and autistic youth which she found inspiring.
“While training at college I found strength I never knew I had, and a purpose I’ll never forget.”
Hunta will be based in Tasman District.
Leadership Award winner Constable Charise Perez is also a keen sports person excelling in netball. She was born in Wellington and raised by her Fijian dad and Samoan mother. Charise has experience in hospitality, service and politics.
She began her employment at the Electoral Commission as an administrator. She was a community liaison and worked on the 2020 elections and has also managed administration for an emergency housing organization called Tuatahi Centre.
As the leadership award winner, Charise gave a speech to the wing.
“I stand here today as a product of the relationships and bonds between the members of wing 384. Together we began our journey as strangers, but today we stand as brothers and sisters.
As we take the next step in our police journey, I believe that each and every one of wing 384 are more than capable of fulfilling the oath that we have just taken.”
Charise, a former Authorized Officer for Police, will be based back in Wellington District to start policing.
The wing is dispersed as follows:
Northland 3, Auckland total of 23 and broken down as follows: Waitematā – 9, Counties Manukau – 14, Waikato – 4, Bay of Plenty – 8, Eastern – 3, Central – 8, Wellington – 9, Tasman – 6, Canterbury – 3, Southern – 7.
The new constables will start their first week of duty in their Police districts from Monday 2 June 2025 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.
25.7 percent are female, 74.3 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 56.8 percent of the wing, with Māori 12.2 percent, Pasifika 17.6 percent, Asian 10.8 percent, LAAM 2.7 percent.
