The Bay of Plenty will be receiving 11 new constables.

A total of 57 new officers are graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College on Thursday and will be posted to different regions throughout the country.

'This is the most ethnically diverse wing to have started their training in 2020 with many of the wing demographics exceeding New Zealand's population demographics for ethnicity (as compared to the 2018 census),” says a statement from police.

'Police is aiming for a constabulary workforce diverse in ethnicity and gender that reflects the population we are policing, and we have set ambitious recruitment targets to meet our desired workforce profile.”

Constable David Manuel (Ngāti Porou) says he's passionate about his home and where he comes from – Ruatoria and the East Coast, or as he says 'paradise on Earth”.

David grew up immersed in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, and has pursued careers as a builder and more recently as a police authorised officer.

David says he became a police officer to be a role model for youth in his home community.

'I want to challenge myself where I feel I can make a positive change to the community – I aspire to be someone my community, iwi, hapū and whānau can rely on.”

David is being posted to Eastern District.

From Iran to New Zealand, Constable Neda Mohammadhasan has travelled across the world with her husband and son to a country where she became determined to be a police officer.

Neda has a degree in industrial engineering and has worked in project management.

Since moving to New Zealand Neda says she has seen how our police officers treat offenders and victims, 'so different from the concept of police that I have experienced before.”

Living in Christchurch at the time of the March 15 terror attacks, many of Neda's work colleagues had family members who were affected.

'Many of them are refugees and they moved to New Zealand for a safe place to live.

'I'm so proud to be part of this police service, where I can help keep New Zealand safe for all New Zealanders and all migrants and refugees who left their countries and moved here for a better life.”

Neda is posted to Counties Manukau District.

Commissioner Andrew Coster and Police Minister Hon Poto Williams were present at the graduation ceremony.

Due to alert level restrictions only some family and friends able to attend the ceremony, while others watched it via livestream.

AWARDS

Minister's Award recognising top student – Constable Michael Baek, Auckland City District

Award for Second in Wing, recognising second top student – Constable Tane Tuhakaraina, Southern District

Commissioner's Award for Leadership – Constable Michael Baek, Auckland City District

Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Award – Constable Nathan Kara, Auckland City District

Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award – Constable Courtney Walker, Counties Manukau District

Firearms Award – Constable Shannan May, Auckland City District

Deployment information

The new constables will have a one-week break before starting duties in their districts. The wing is being dispersed as follows:

Northland – 3

Waitematā – 2

Auckland – 8

Counties Manukau – 11

Waikato – 2

Bay of Plenty – 11

Eastern – 5

Central – 2

Wellington – 4

Tasman – 5

Southern – 4

Wing demographics

Female 35.1 per cent; Male 64.9 per cent; NZ European 45.6 per cent; Māori 24.6 per cent; Pacific 17.5 per cent; Asian 10.5 per cent; LAAM 1.8 per cent.