Chervonne’s a police officer at 44
Chervonne Taylor had always wanted to make a difference to her community and decided to do it by pulling on a police uniform.
She’d already had a career in banking and owned a butchery with her husband before deciding to chase her dream job, graduating at 44.
And the Waikato constable is urging others to do the same, especially wā hine Mā ori, saying she brings Mā ori values to the job.
‘‘I will get out of a car, and I am either going to get a kia ora whaea, kia ora auntie, or I am going to get people that look me up and down because I am a unit. I am 6ft 1 (1.86m), but I do get respect,’’ she said.
Taylor started the recruitment process in April 2017, and graduated as the oldest female in her wing in May 2019, at the age of 44.
The New Zealand Police launched their first recruitment campaign targeting wā hine Mā ori – Puhikura in June.
Currently, wā hine Mā ori make up only 3.7% of police, despite making up 8.4% of the population.
By comparison, Mā ori men are 9.8% of constabulary strength
– but 8.1% in the general population.
Overall, women make up quarter of New Zealand’s constabulary workforce.
Growing up, Taylor saw her parents helping others in the community, so to do the same was instilled in her from an early age.
When she and her husband shifted from Northland to Hamilton with their three sons, she decided ‘‘now was the time’’.
‘‘As a mother you put your kids first, and we moved down here to give our children a few more opportunities. I decided . . . they are old enough for me to go away and do the training and work the hours which are needed in the police.’’
Taylor is passionate about getting more Mā ori into the police as some whā nau out there have had a bad experience, and it just takes one for them to hold on to.
‘‘I am showing I’m Mā ori. I’m in uniform, but I am trying to tell you I am here to help.’’
Taylor said her family is proud of her career choice, especially her sons.
‘‘I’ve got family on the other side of the police, they do the opposite to what I do. But, in the long run, if there was going to be any change I had to put myself into that situation to show my people that there is nothing wrong with this uniform. I am still Mā ori and my values of being Mā ori are the same.’’
Taylor acknowledges the job can be dangerous.
‘‘We put ourselves in situations that others would probably run from, but with the support of your team you always feel safe.
‘‘I know there’s always colleagues listening on the radio, and you have plenty of backup.’’
She has aspirations to make a difference by moving up the ranks.
‘‘It’s not because of the rank, but because I want to be in some decision-making that mould the police to help them understand what is needed in police.
‘‘My role is to make sure these changes are happening inside the organisation. Once we make changes in the organisation then the more Mā ori police officers we have. It’s going to filter down to our frontline staff, more positive interactions when we deal with Mā ori in the community.’’
Chervonne Taylor