Waiouru 'comparatively affluent' says policeman

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 539, 7 June 1994, Page 7

Waiouru 'comparatively affluent' says policeman

By Michele Monaghan Constable Eddie Baker has left the relative warmth ofTe Kuiti to brave a winter or two in Waiouru. "We wondered what we

had come to," he said, "we haven't had a fine day for three weeks." Constable Baker is married to Bronwyn and they have three boys. Tomas is

the oldest at 6, then there's Rhys, 4, and Cameron, 2. "It's been a pretty positive move for us," said Constable Baker. "It' s certainlydifferent to a lot of places,

mainly because of the military involvement." Constable Baker added that in Waiouru you "haven't got the really disadvantaged people. Everyone around here, compared to a lot of places, are fairly affluent... mainly because of the jobs," he said. Constable Baker said being in Waiouru will be a good experience. "In a big place you have specialist people like youth aid. Here you have to be a 'jack of all trades'. He said being in a small centre provided him with a certain amount of autonomy. "We're our own bosses up to a certain extent." With the ski season coming up Constable B aker said one of his concerns will be speed control - making sure

people behave themselves on the roads. Constable Baker has played a game of rugby for the 'dirty thirties' and also a game of league. He said he is still finding his way around. Constable Baker spent six years in the navy as a radio operator before making the switch to the police. He has now been a policeman for four years.