Royal New Zealand Police College facts for kids
The Royal New Zealand Police College
viewed from Aotea Lagoon |
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location |
Papakōwhai, Porirua, Wellington Region
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New Zealand
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| Website | RNZPC |
The Royal New Zealand Police College is the main training school for everyone who wants to become a police officer in New Zealand. It is where new recruits learn all the skills they need for the job. The college is located in Papakōwhai, near the city of Porirua.
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Becoming a Police Officer
People who want to join the New Zealand Police must first complete a challenging 20-week training course at the college. These new students are called recruits.
Several groups of recruits, known as "wings," start their training each year. A wing can have 40, 60, or even 80 people in it. During their time at the college, recruits learn many important skills.
What Do Recruits Learn?
Training at the police college covers a wide range of subjects to prepare recruits for real-life situations. Some of the key skills they learn include:
- Driving Skills: How to safely operate a police car in different conditions.
- Firearms Training: Learning how to use police equipment responsibly and safely.
- Forensic Skills: Basic techniques for finding and collecting evidence at a crime scene.
- Communication: How to talk to people in difficult situations and help calm things down.
- Cultural Awareness: Understanding and respecting the different cultures within New Zealand's communities.
After successfully finishing the 20-week course, graduates become probationary constables. This means they are official police officers but continue their training on the job for two years.
More Than Just a Training School
The Royal New Zealand Police College is a busy place with more than just recruit training. It also hosts courses for experienced officers to update their skills. Sometimes, the college is used for conferences and other events that are not related to the police.
Two other important police departments are based at the college:
- The New Zealand Police Museum, where you can learn about the history of policing in the country.
- The Police Information & Communications Technology Service Centre, which is the tech hub that manages all the computers and technology for the New Zealand Police.
A Place of Remembrance
Inside a special building at the college, called the Memorial Building, there is a wall of plaques. Each plaque is dedicated to a New Zealand police officer who died while serving the community. It is a quiet place to remember and honour their sacrifice.
History of the College
The college was officially opened on 1 April 1981 by Prince Charles. Before this modern facility was built, police training took place at a different location, next to the Trentham Military Camp in Upper Hutt.
See also
- New Zealand Police
External links
- NZ Police website Find out more about becoming a police officer.
