Head start for police hopefuls | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua's Stefanie Graham is all set to take on a new challenge when she heads to Wellington in a few weeks to begin her life as a police officer.

Miss Graham recently passed a course at Rotorua's Te Wananga o Aotearoa ki Waiariki where she learned the basic skills required to join the police.

The 18-week course prepares students for the entry test in to the police and covers the physical and theory exams.

Students need to build up a high level of fitness and learn the basic numerical, verbal and abstract requirements needed to join the force.

The course is two nights a week and every third Saturday of the month, and also includes defensive driving courses, first aid and a swimming certificate.

By the end of the course students can sit the police entrance exam and physical fitness test.

Wananga kaiako (tutor) Tu Williams said the organisation signed a memorandum of understanding with the police last year.

"While on the course, members of Rotorua's police force came along to most of the classes to give advice and answer questions," Mr Williams said.

Miss Graham said she was nervous at first but as time went on she felt she had made the right choice.

"I was a bit nervous about going. It was hard juggling time at home, fitness training and study while working as well.

"It was in the back of my mind for a few years and then I had a baby. He's 4 now so I thought it was a good time to get into it.

"I definitely want to come back to Rotorua, I think there's a need and I want to help our youth to make good choices and decisions in life.

"The course was perfect for my needs and well worth it. The best part about it was the support, we were really looked after," she said.

Maori advisor for the Bay of Plenty, Senior Sergeant Lehi Hohaia, said the course was mainly for Maori and other ethnicities but non-Maori were more than welcome to take it as well.

"We are trying to get more Maori and ethnic people to join the police so if you want a good crack at passing the entrance exams the wananga will give you those tools.

"It's a great career and gives you such a wide range of life and people skills you would not learn anywhere else. Passing the course is not a guarantee you will get into the police but it's a great start," he said.

Miss Graham will head to Wellington on April 10 to begin her 19-week police training in the hope she will be posted back to Rotorua.

If you are interested in a career in the police and want to get a head start contact Te Wananga o Aotearoa ki Waiariki on (07) 349 2360.