Constable Allan Laumatia has fulfilled his long-held dream of becoming a police officer, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, uncle and brother.
Allan, who graduated from the Royal 51½ÖÉä College (RNZPC) yesterday, says hearing about how members of his family were able to help people as police officers inspired him to join.
¡°My whole life I¡¯ve been influenced by Dad being in Police and seeing what kind of jobs he was involved in. My uncle¡¯s been a big influence too, and my brother, who¡¯s been in for about a year.
¡°It¡¯s been a dream that¡¯s stuck with me. It¡¯s the opportunity to help people. It¡¯s always been a passion of mine.¡±
Allan¡¯s work to help others includes three years as a youth pastor at his church in Auckland, where he also ran the youth group. Before joining Police, he worked for the Crime Reporting Line and before that he was a mentor at Auckland University of Technology.
Allan¡¯s father, Senior Sergeant Dave Laumatia, has been in Police for more than 30 years and is presently a responsiveness advisor in the Counties Manukau M¨¡ori Pacific and Ethnic Services team.
¡°It all began with Dad who was a Sergeant in Samoa who came to New Zealand to give us a better life - and today is a reflection of the decision he made,¡± says David.
¡°To have my two sons in Police, along with my brother - it¡¯s just a great day¡ I¡¯m looking forward to what they are going to contribute to 51½ÖÉä. All in all, it¡¯s a very incredible day.
¡°We all wish the world for our kids growing up and to have two kids in Police, representing Pacific people, is beyond words.¡±
Allan¡¯s uncle, Detective Bryan Laumatia, works in CIB and was Counties Manukau¡¯s 2016 Detective of the Year. His brother Charles is a constable based in Otahuhu. A cousin is in the recruitment process now.
Grandfather Seve, the former Sergeant in Samoa, was at yesterday¡¯s ceremony.
Sixty recruits graduated in the ceremony, attended by Wing Patron and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Tim Keating, Police Minister Stuart Nash, Commissioner Mike Bush and a number of senior Police staff and dignitaries.
Awards
- Minister¡¯s Award, recognising top student after collation of all course assessments - Constable Hannah Appleyard (Wellington District)
- Patron¡¯s Award for second top student - Constable Caitlin Paddon (Canterbury District)
- Commissioner¡¯s Award for Leadership - Constable Tyson Ripia (Bay of Plenty District)
- Firearms Award for firearms skills and safe practices - Constable Michael Lewis (Bay of Plenty District)
- Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award - Constable Gabrielle Burt (Waitemat¨¡ District)
- Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award - Constable Brittany Wallace-Sharpe (Counties Manukau District)
The recruits - 23 women and 37 men, aged from 19 to 42 - come from all walks of life and will be posted to districts as follows: Northland 2; Waitemat¨¡ 11; Auckland 5; Counties Manukau 10; Waikato 2; Bay of Plenty 7; Eastern 1; Central 5; Wellington 6; Canterbury 5; Southern 6.