Is the classroom the right place to recruit new cops? Two Rotorua High schools to offer NCEA police studies

November 1, 2017

The new subject raises interesting questions about the future of traditional school subjects.

The tradition of schools setting students up for university is in for a shake-up when two Rotorua schools become the first in the country to teach a new subject on police work next year.

Police Introductory will be a full-time subject with 24 level 3 NCEA credits and a level 4 Unitec certificate.

The course will be an option for students at Rotorua Boys' High School and Rotorua Girls' High School in 2018. 

It'll be launched at Rotorua Boys' High this morning with an event that will include a Police Dog Unit and Armed Offenders Squad display, and speakers from both schools, Unitec, and Police.

Rotorua Boys High School deputy principal Matthew Dalton told Seven Sharp traditional education in New Zealand has served young men and women who are heading towards university. 

"It's really important that we open up the pathways beyond that," he said.

It's a really positive recruitment opportunity for these young people who are our future leaders.

—  Rotorua Police Area Commander Naru Pewhairangi |

"We've developed what we think's going to be a very engaging course that will challenge the young men and young women physically, as well as academically. They'll be looking at legislative law. They'll be looking at how policing structures work."

The first students taking the course will be making history, and changing attitudes towards police.

"A lot of people, especially people in my family, are brought up with the mentality that police are just there to arrest you and they're the bad guys of the community," said Rotorua Boy's High student Hohaia MacFarlane.

"And this is definitely an opportunity for us to see what they're really all about and what they stand for."

Rotorua Police Area Commander Anaru Pewhairangi said part of the force's intent with the course "is to engage with our Rangatahi at a different level, and in order to do that you've got to go out there and you've got to be vulnerable".

Recruitment for police is part of the target, in particular, Maori and Pasifika students. 

"I think it's a really positive recruitment opportunity for these young people who are our future leaders. Certainly [it] will help us as New Zealand Police to better reflect the community that we are here to serve," Mr Pewhairangi said.

But is the school classroom the right place to recruit for police?  Rotorua Girls' High School principal Ally Gibbons says it is.

"I think anything that we can do in schools in order to encourage them to look at career pathways - I think yes."

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