Detector Dogs Bella, Walt and Waka graduate

After intensive weeks of training, three of our newest detector dog teams were recognised in a graduation ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Police Dog Training Centre at Trentham on Thursday (28 April) alongside our Police and Pacific programme colleagues (two handlers from NZ Police and one handler graduating from Cook Islands Police and one from French Polynesia Customs).

Although our three teams validated as operational last year, and have been working in each of our main hubs - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch since; as with many things, the constraints of COVID-19 meant we were not able to formally commemorate their achievement with the ceremony until now.

Pictured from left is Senior Customs Officer Dan and drug/cash Detector Dog Waka from Auckland, Senior Customs Officer Paul and drug/cash Detector Dog Walt from Christchurch, and Customs Officer Ezra and drug Detector Dog Bella from Wellington. They were presented their certificates by Dana McDonald, Group Manager Intelligence, Investigations and Enforcement.

A big congratulations go out to our three teams, and we would like to acknowledge the hard work of our detector dog trainers who have supported them throughout the course, working with them to ensure they were certified and ready to start the next part of their journey within the operational environment.