Pacific woman wins top Australasia police award

Loretta Hunt-Tevaga never imagined life would lead her to the New Zealand Police.

Almost two decades later, she would win one of Australasia’s most prestigious policing awards.

The 31-year-old shared her journey, which has led her to redefine what it means to lead with purpose through grit, determination, and an unwavering commitment to service.

This year, Hunt-Tevaga received theMost Outstanding Female Leader Award and the Australasian Council of Women and Policing Awards (ACWAP).

While it is unclear if Hunt-Tevaga is the first Pacific woman to win this award, she says her path to the police force was unconventional.

She decided to try it herself when she was supporting her sister’s ambition to attend a policing course.

“At the age of 31, an opportunity came up to do an introductory course for policing.

“It was something that my sister wanted to do. She wasn't available to do the course, so I jumped into it.

“A year later, I graduated from the New Zealand Police College. I was 33 when I graduated. Before that time, I was doing odd jobs here and there.

“I had worked at Wellington City Council. I worked for IRD. I did odd jobs. I was travelling, but I didn't really have a direction. When this came up, I took the opportunity.

“The reason why I hadn't done it any sooner was because I thought I wasn't capable of becoming a police officer… I wish I’d had the confidence earlier… but I believe everything happens for a reason.”

Hunt-Tevaga served as the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police Executive Coordinator. Photo/Fiji Police

From there, she began a journey that would shape not only her life but also the lives of many others.

Hunt-Tevaga was away on deployment in Sāmoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) when she received the news that she had won the award.

“The date of the awards ceremony was the same date that I had already applied for a deployment to CHOGM in Sāmoa.

“My commitment and my passion was to work alongside our Sāmoan police officers, and so I took the opportunity.

“When I was away on deployment, I received a message from the Assistant Police Commissioner, Sandra Venables, advising me that I had won the award, which was an absolute shock because I honestly was not expecting it.

“It was quite emotional actually. It was an emotional time just due to the fact that I was serving in Sāmoa, which I'm really passionate about and then just to receive this news that I had won the award, it was quite a privilege and an honour.”

Hunt-Tevaga’s influence extends far beyond her achievements.

“A few years ago, I was a Pacific liaison coordinator, and that s part of my role was to take on the recruitment side of things.

“I initiated the Wellington Pasifika Patrol Incorporated, and I worked alongside a lot of our community members and leaders.

“This was a stepping stone for [Pacific] people who wanted to join the police.

“Well over 16 of our volunteers are now serving in the New Zealand Police, and as far as I know, the Wellington Pasifika National Services, they're continuing to promote and advertise and support potential recruits wanting to join the police.”

The Australasian Council of Women and Policing (ACWAP) has been participating in the global network of women in policing since it was established in August 1997. Photo/QPS Media

There are close to 11,000 police officers in New Zealand, 7.8 per cent of them Pacific and 1.6 per cent women.

Despite being a minority within the minority, Hunt-Tevaga has grasped every opportunity she’s had.

She has served across the Pacific region in places such as Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea.

She worked with the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police, including police forces from Guam, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

Raised in a single-parent household in Wellington, she emphasised the importance of serving and honouring her Pacific community.

“Our parents who migrated to New Zealand in the early 50s and 60s, they migrated here, of course, to give us a better life, so my upbringing it was very family orientated.

“In all honesty, I fought because they came from factory workers, cleaners, so that's how I grew up, I was cleaning, I was doing all those small jobs, and when we talk about service, it didn't matter what you were doing.

“I was cleaning toilets, and I did that for a long time until opportunities started coming up, and then I started taking those opportunities.

“But I think from back then to now, that's kind of created the person that I am today, so I have respect for everybody and their upbringing and where they've come from.

“I think for me, sharing my experiences and the challenges that I went through has definitely been an advantage for where I am today, because that's how people can relate, they relate to those lived experiences, and so that's what I'd like to bring to the table.

“I don't sugarcoat anything, I'm quite honest, I'm quite raw, but in order for us to see others achieve, putting a hand out to help somebody out, that's what I'm all about.”

Watch Loretta Hunt-Tevaga's full interview on Pacific Mornings