Constable Oriwia Taylor comes from humble beginnings, raised at Waikaremoana in the heart of the remote Te Urewera.
Taylor joined 78 talented New Zealanders who proudly lined up at their police graduation ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Police College yesterday.
Taylor said she was proud of her Tūhoe heritage, and having been posted to the Eastern District, wants to make a difference in her community.
"I've joined the police because I love my community. We have a drug, gang and alcohol problem, and I just want to be able to show rangatahi there are alternatives out there."
Taylor spent a small portion of her life in Australia, working "on the roads and in bars" but considers herself a country girl who loves her marae and hunting.