From international student to NZ Police bridge-builder—Raymond Wong on trust, empathy, and community.

Disclaimer: Raymond Wong is no longer employed by the New Zealand Police. The views and reflections he shares in this interview are offered in a personal capacity and do not represent the views of New Zealand Police.

Raymond Wong reflects on his journey from arriving in Aotearoa as a Malaysian teen to becoming New Zealand’s first full-time Asian Ethnic Police Liaison. He speaks about language shock and early migrant challenges, why community policing matters, and how trust is built through humility, listening, and presence. The kōrero spans safety and common-sense prevention, working alongside traumatised families, the emotional load borne by police, and the role of empathy in serving diverse communities. R ...