Everything about the Far North is a new experience for the new officer in charge at the Mangonui police station.
Constable Brett Walford, born and bred in Hawke's Bay and stationed in Marton for the eight years of his police career so far, had never been that far north until he arrived to take over from Senior Constable Steve Robinson, but three days into the new job everything was going well, he said last week.
He had been impressed by what he had seen of his new patch, and the friendliness of the locals. They would be getting every chance to keep the waves and smiles going, he added, as he was a hands-on sort of police officer who liked to maintain a high profile in his community, and to be accessible.
A self-employed tradesman before he joined the force, he was now receiving lessons from colleague Constable Dave Reynolds on speaking the Queen's English/learning how to swear properly, depending on who was telling the story.
The job at Mangonui was certainly a step up in terms of his career, Constable Walford added, but he was looking forward to it.
