A police prevention team along with members from New Zealand Defence Force and Blue Light NZ held Youth Development training courses in the country.

Rarotonga participants graduated from the course last week, with Aitutaki personnel undertaking their training this week.

The course last week was led by a NZ Defence Force team and involved personnel from Police, and also Corrective Services. 

The NZDF team, headed by Petty Officer Taeler Lepou, also includes Staff Sergeant Javan Mataia and Corporal Liam Whareaitu. A fourth member of the team, Ricki Tan, is lead psychologist with the team. 

In a statement, Police said the training covered behavioural psychology, mental health and wellbeing, and understanding learning differences as well as practical based sessions around situational awareness, incident control, and escalation and de-escalation, amongst other tools used by police. 

“The trainers specialise and deal with at risk youth and young adults.”

On Friday, the Rarotonga participants received their certificates, during a morning ceremony attended by Police Commissioner TJ Keenan. Also in support were Ministry of Corrective Services personnel, led by Secretary Tai Joseph, and Superintendent Teariki Purua.

Four staff from Corrective Services were part of this joint effort, alongside five Police Service personnel.

Petty Officer Lepou, Commissioner Keenan and Superintendent Purua, provided encouraging words of support in the need to reach out to the younger ones, particularly those vulnerable and at risk.

Preventative efforts were the key to reaching the youth before they fell into times of trouble, was a theme touched on by Friday’s speakers.

The graduates were PC Edward Akatapuria (Police Maritime), PC Ataela Ataela (Police Maritime), PC Richard Davey (Police Maritime), Apolo Purua (Corrective Services), PC Daniel Daniel (Police Maritime), Terepai Obeda (Corrective Services), Elizabeth George (Corrective Services), S/Sgt. Ngatamariki Pouao (Police Prevention) and Davis Teinaki (Corrective Services).

On Sunday, a police prevention team deployed to Aitutaki to prepare for the start of the second Youth Development training course on Monday.

They were joined by members of the visiting New Zealand Defence Force team and two representatives from Blue Light NZ, who will facilitate the week-long training for Aitutaki youth. This course builds on the success of the previous youth development training held in Aitutaki last October.

Police Media