Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, members of the police executive and wing patron Cameron Leslie MNZM congratulated the 55 graduating constables from Wing 389 this morning.
Families and friends watched as the newly attested police officers marched out at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua.
They are a diverse group of people who have worked in roles such as a security guard, swim coach, builder and in customer service. Many in the wing have degrees, diplomas and trade qualifications.
Also attending the graduation and presenting the prize to the top award winner was Associate Minister of Police Hon Casey Costello.
Top of the wing, Constable Millie-Maree Sedgwick, is looking forward to returning to Canterbury District.
Millie-Maree is well acquainted with policing as she has worked for New Zealand Police since 2018 in the Police Vetting Service, National Command and Coordination Centre, and in several Intelligence roles in Wellington and Canterbury.
Moving into a constabulary role is a way to make even more of a contribution to the community, she says.
"My main reason is to be part of something bigger than myself. I believe I can give more back to the community by being on the frontline than from behind a computer."
While she found the recruit course provided many challenges along the way, Millie-Maree says the wing members supported each other well and this helped her immensely.
"The support from my peers in the wing really helped me push through the 20 weeks of training."
The Leadership Award Winner is Constable Jordan Bremner (Ngāti Maniapoto), posted to Central District.
Jordan's father was a police officer for 10 years and even worked at the Police College for some of that time, so policing was always on the horizon for Jordan.
First though, he completed more than six years in the New Zealand Army, with a career highlight being a stint instructing youth at a military-style course.
"I really loved my time instructing on that course, seeing the trainees really grow. Now, as a police officer I want to take every opportunity to help the community, including preventing youth offending and helping them take better pathways."
At the graduation Jordan spoke on behalf of the wing.
"As we move on from here to our districts, we do so with pride, wearing our uniform with honour, carrying the confidence of the public and upholding the standards of this organisation and the values we have gained during our time here.
"May we remember that to be a police officer is to be a leader in our community. May we never take that responsibility lightly."
Joining Jordan in Central District is Constable Ashleigh Chapman, who was awarded the Patron's Award for second in wing and the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award.
Ashleigh worked in beauty therapy before joining Police, but wanted to move into a service-based role.
"I decided I wanted to serve the community and people, but at first I wasn't sure how to do this. My Mum reminded me that as a kid of around 10 years old I really wanted to be a police officer, and this triggered my mindset towards joining. I hit 'apply' and it happened!"
Ashleigh found the most challenging aspect of the recruit course was the physical aspects.
"I only started the physical training like the running when I applied to join Police, but I have enjoyed those challenges and I've grown because of them. My sergeant and section have been incredibly supportive, I always felt like they had my back throughout the course, and my faith also played a huge role in getting me through the tough days."
Deployment:
The new constables will start their first day of duty in their Police districts on the week beginning Monday 24 November 2025 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.
Auckland City 1, Counties Manukau 4, Waikato 6, Bay of Plenty 11, Eastern 5, Central 8, Wellington 6, Tasman 1, Canterbury 8, Southern 5.
All Awards:
- Minister's Award recognising top student: Constable Millie-Maree Sedgwick, posted to Canterbury District.
- Commissioner's Award for Leadership: Constable Jordan Bremner, posted to Central District.
- Patron's Award for second top student and the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award: Constable Ashleigh Chapman, posted to Central District.
- Firearms Award: Constable George Lynch, posted to Tasman District.
- Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Andre Kleuskens, posted to Bay of Plenty District.
Demographics:
27.3 percent are female, 72.7 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 78.2 percent of the wing, with Māori 12.7 percent, Pasifika 1.8 percent, Asian 5.5 percent, LAAM 1.8 percent.
Wing Patron:
Cameron Leslie MNZM is a Kiwi Paralympian and Wheel Black from Whangārei. He has broken world records and won gold medals at Paralympic Games. Cameron was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2009 New Year's Honours, for services to swimming.
In wheelchair rugby Cameron is known as a mid-point player. This means he carries the ball a lot and is one of the generals on court. Among some of Cameron's proudest achievements are helping the Wheel Blacks qualify for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, which Cameron did not attend due to Covid and the birth of his second child, and being a finalist for the global sporting awards The Laureus Awards in 2023.
Currently Cameron lives in Whangārei with his wife and three children while working for Swimming New Zealand as the Disability and Para Swimming Participation Manager.
Watch out for our Ten One story coming soon with more images and stories.
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