The First Monastic Patron for the Royal New Zealand Police College –Venerable Abbess Manshin

On 1 February, Venerable Abbess Manshin of Fo Guang Shan (North Island) was invited to Wellington to attend a Powhiri (Maori welcoming ceremony) where she accepted the patronage of the Police Recruit 261 Wing. Superintendent Mike Wilson, Superintendent Wallace Haumaha, Inspector Lindsay Duncan, Sergeant Christopher Blanchard, Maori elders and all of the 41 recruits from Wing 261 attended the ceremony. The formal part of the pöwhiri concluded with hongi ( traditional Māori greeting in New Zealand) and refreshments. After which, Abbess Venerable Manshin addressed the Wing for the first time.

One of the strategies The Royal New Zealand Police College uses to encourage superior public service is the patron concept. Police Recruits are introduced to positive role models who exhibit the qualities and values all police officers want to pursue. The opportunity to be a wing patron is afforded to notable people who have contributed significantly in their service to New Zealand. They believe that Venerable Abbess Manshin has the ability to intertwine community expectations and quality service to reinforce these messages to the wing.

Wing 261 consists of 41 recruits, 30 of them are male and 11 are female with an average age of 26. They come from different part of New Zealand and 10 of them are from Asia and will be posted to Counties Manukau Police District after 4 month training. Venerable Abbess Manshin had a semi-formal meeting with the recruits in order to get to know each other better. They were curious about the monastic life and posed questions such as the meaning of the prayer beads, the significance of the robe and even the reasons why Abbess chose to become a monastic.

Venerable Manshin shared experience of her life in the Buddhist College and encouraged the new recruit to learn earnestly in the Police College in order to contribute to the society when they graduate. She hoped that everyone would cultivate their body, speech and mind and work towards a criminal free society.
The new recruits benefited from the sharing given by Venerable Manshin gaining more insight and confidence to become outstanding police officers. The college will arrange the new recruit to visit Fo Guang Shan Temple before they graduate.