Future leaders’ course

Senior police officers from across the Pacific attended a groundbreaking conference in Porirua City recently.

The Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) in Papakowhai hosted 21 senior police officers from 15 South Pacific countries last month at a two-week course for future leaders in police.

They travelled from as far afield as Federated States of Micronesia, in the Northwest Pacific, to the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific. The course was designed to develop management skills and provide the tools needed in leadership roles.

Four members of the course had previous links with Porirua and the police college, dating back 25 years.

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett met the group and said he was impressed by the calibre of Pacific leaders on his city’s doorstep.

‘‘It’s great to see the police college at Porirua being used as a training base by Pacific nations. With such a large Pacific community, I see these senior officers as being great role models to kids in our schools. We are proud that Porirua is the ‘home’ of New Zealand Police and as such we need to be better promoting policing as a career to our large population of children and young people.’’

Inspector Anaru George, head of Community and Prevention training at the police college, said the conference was fantastic for the attendees, staff, course members and recruits.

‘‘It has been heartening to see members of the leadership course seek out Pasifika recruits and share stories,’’ he said.