Students at a Rotorua school had a lesson in what it takes to become a police officer, facing physical challenges never attempted before.
Around 100 Kaitao Middle School students aged 11 to 13 took on the police physical competency test, which includes a 200m run, climbing over walls and fences and walking across a beam. They were also treated to a display from the dog section in a visit the deputy principal hoped would serve as a career lesson as well as create positive ties to the police.
"They're seeing the police interact with them and apart from this being a career choice they get to be in amongst it," said deputy principal Kim Solomon.
"To experience the police in a positive light will hopefully help when they have choices to make later on in life. I think this is one of the top communities that has big police issues in it."
Ms Solomon said she had more demand to try the physical test than could be met. Students raced around in teams of four, with some students jumping over the obstacles with ease and others requiring some help from their team mates.
"We sold it as fun, fitness and getting to know our community police," she said.
"But it's also about their future careers. It's a fabulous idea getting them to do this test."
Rotorua police community and youth services manager Senior Sergeant Denton Grimes said police liked to visit schools, such as Kaitao, to build relationships and to have a positive engagement with the students, staff and community.
"It gives the police the opportunity to deliver key messages around being safe and also the benefits of being more active," he said.
"The feedback from the students and from those present was positive and everyone enjoyed the occasion.
"It is something the police will continue to do as working in partnership with our communities will assist us in preventing crime and road trauma as well as enhancing public safety and trust."