Police graduate Shayna Huhu joins Eastern team

Graduates of The Royal New Zealand Police College No. 367 Recruit Wing perform a haka at the graduation ceremony last week. Pictures by Stephen A’Court

Constable Shayna Huhu, one of the graduates from the latest wing to pass through the New Zealand Police College, starts work in Gisborne on Monday.

The single mother was among 77 new officers who graduated last week, and one of a dozen new police officers to be sent to join the team in the Eastern Police District.

The new officers celebrated their success with whānau and friends at the 367 police wing graduation last Thursday.

At the ceremony were Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, Minister of Justice and Acting Minister for Police Kiri Allan and 367-wing patron Gráinne Moss —  the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel and Cook Strait.

“The wing was made up of sporting elite and selfless volunteers, and many of the new constables have tertiary educations, extensive skills and qualifications in line with their new careers,” a police spokesman said.

Constable Huhu has worked with at-risk youth in Gisborne since she was 18.

“This took me into roles and jobs coordinating after-school youth programmes at our local skate park, residential care work and, most recently, mentoring at an alternative education service,” Constable Huhu said.

“These roles have built my resilience, empathy and ability to communicate with those from all walks of life,” the 27-year-old said.  “I’m looking forward to being back and working in my home community.”

Constable Huhu said she was also excited about being back with her 10-year-old son after finishing police college.

Whānau in Gisborne looked after him during her training.

“I definitely encourage other women to consider careers in the police. And people from different walks of life should consider it too,” she said.

In Wing 367 just over 35 percent of the new officers were female.

New Zealand European made up 70 percent of the wing, Māori 13 percent, Pacific 9 percent, Asian 6.5 percent and Latin American, African and Middle Eastern the rest.