Police praised for diversity drive
Areality television show, targeted advertising and efforts to promote women up the ranks have helped boost the numbers of female police officers – and helped the the nation’s police force to win an award.
The 19th annual Diversity Awards New Zealand were handed out on Wednesday night.
The supreme award went to the New Zealand Police, to recognise the lengths the organisation had gone to to recruit, retain and promote female officers over the past two years.
After independent reviews outlined a lack of progress in gender diversity, Police Commissioner Mike Bush and his executive leadership team introduced two major initiatives to attract, support and develop women, Diversity Works New Zealand chief executive Bev Cassidy-Mackenzie said.
A recruitment campaign aimed at women, which included targeted advertising and the Women in Blue reality TV series, contributed to record growth in female recruits graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College. Last year, 36 per cent of graduates were women compared with 24 per cent in 2012.
A Women’s Advisory Network has been set up within the NZ Police to support women’s development across the force and there has been an increase in the percentage of women being promoted within the ranks.
‘‘The work the New Zealand Police have done is not only developing their female staff, it’s allowing them to better serve our community,’’ Cassidy-Mackenzie said.
‘‘It’s no simple task to change the culture of a large organisation, especially when you are dealing with an issue that has been impacting the workforce for a long period of time.’’
Minister for Women Louise Upston congratulated the police for winning this year’s top award.
‘‘Diverse and inclusive workplaces are critical to New Zealand economic and social development,’’ she said.
‘‘On the back of the recent 75th anniversary of women joining the NZ Police, this provides another opportunity to celebrate how far we have come. NZ Police has demonstrated outstanding commitment to empowering women across their organisation.
‘‘I urge other organisations to take note of what can be achieved.’’
The Diversity Awards NZ recognise and celebrate the New Zealand businesses and organisations championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.