New man on the beat in Mangawhai

It’s a case of second time lucky for Constable Hugo Du Plessis, who has just started working alongside Snr Constable Graham Gough, at Mangawhai Police Station.

Hugo, 26, replaces Geoff Medland, who has left to work in Auckland.

Two years ago, when Mangawhai was officially made a two-man station, and Geoff’s position was made permanent, Hugo unsuccessfully applied for the post. This time round, with a little more experience under his belt, he landed the job. He says he has long enjoyed holidays in Mangawhai and both he and wife Lauren, a nurse, feel it is the perfect place to work and bring up a young family.
South African born Hugo has lived in New Zealand since he was 10. He attended college in Whangarei, and worked in the construction industry and as a dive instructor and boat builder before joining the police in 2005.

“I’m looking forward to making a difference, to seeing a job through to completion, and not just being a number as you tend to be in the city,” he says.
Since graduating, Hugo has worked in South Auckland.

Constable Hugo Du Plessis.