One of four new recruits who have started working for police in Dunedin in the past month, Const Norrie said it was the fulfillment of a dream to become a police officer.
"I knew I wanted to join the police since I was 14, when we had one come and speak at our school and it felt like the right fit for me.
"I felt like my personality and values fitted what they were looking for."
Having studied history at university in Aberdeen, Const Norrie moved from Scotland to New Zealand with his family in 2006, aged 20, and was offered a bakery apprenticeship.
He has worked in bakeries at Dunedin's central Countdown and Pak `n Save.
"I did that for nearly 14 years. It was a good chunk of life experience being a baker, but I knew it wasn't what I wanted forever."
Const Norrie met his wife, Nikita, in 2011 and the couple had two children, who took priority over his career.
Last year felt like the right time to join, but he failed the fitness test.
Returning this year, he was successful, and graduated just over a month ago.
From Monday, Const Norrie would start on his section, where the real learning would begin, he said.
He was looking forward to the challenge.
"I've realised you can be an average Joe, as long as you have determination and commitment to challenging yourself and improving all the time, you can be successful.
"Dunedin has been my home for 14 years and it's a great place to work and bring up kids. I want it to remain that way and feel like this is the best way I can help with that."
Eighty-eight new positions will be created in the Southern police district over four years as part of 1800 extra police to be hired across New Zealand, in a plan announced last year.
A police spokesman said 11 new positions had been filled in the Southern district by June 30 this year.
A further 16 new positions would be in place by June 30 next year, and the remaining 61 positions would be added in the following years.
