In 2018, Rotorua Girls and Rotorua Boys High Schools were the first two schools to implement Police Studies into their curriculums. Since then, the programme has grown to include 95 schools. In the last 4 years we have had 4 students go on to employment with the New Zealand Police in non sworn positions. Allannah Tapara was our first Police Stuides Top Female student back in 2018. After leaving school she did a stint working at Warehouse Stationery before gaining a position as a File Management Support person at the Rotorua Police station. This role confirmed for Allannah that she wanted to pursue a career with the NZ Police as a sworn officer.

A concussion while playing rugby delayed Allannah's application process by a year, then Covid struck and the brakes went on all applications. However, at the end of 2021 Allannah was notified that she had been accepted and would be attending the Royal NZ Police College in Wing 352. After 16 weeks of training, Allannah graduated on Friday 1st April in Wellington. Mrs Katu, the teacher of Police Studies travelled to Wellington to attend Graduation and had this to say:

“Allannah back in 2018 knew that she would be a Police Officer. Despite all the set backs she picked herself up and kept going. If you want something bad enough you will move mountains to make it happen. The fact that Allannah, the first top student of 2018, is the first Police Studies student to graduate in all of New Zealand, is an amazing feat and our whole Rotorua Police Studies team is so proud of her. In particular, I’d like to acknowledge Anaru Pewhairangi (then Superintendent Pewhairangi, the Rotorua Police Area Commander) who was instrumental in establishing the course in our two kura and who also mentored Allannah during the application process. As the first graduate of the NZ Police she has forged a path through for other Rautāwhiri students to follow”.

Mrs Katu also acknowledges the Rotorua Police Studies team who have supported and helped Allannah along the way - Inspector Nicky Cooney (Police Mentor), Senior Sergeant Graeme Hill (Police Mentor) and Mr Hamish Lockwood (RBHS Police Stuides Teacher). Police Studies is a course offered in Year 13.