Officer calling it a day after 30 years

Long-time Wanaka policeman Aaron Nicholson has decided to turn in his badge after 30 years in the...
Long-time Wanaka policeman Aaron Nicholson has decided to turn in his badge after 30 years in the force to try new ventures. Photo: Sean Nugent
After 30 years in the police force and 17 based in Wanaka, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson has decided to call it a day.

The long-serving officer said he decided the time was right, after reaching the 30-year milestone and 50 years of age in the same year.

"Thirty years I thought was a long time.

"I didn't want to be still working in the police after 50 [years in the force].

"I thought I'd rather have the next 10 years be completely different to what I've been doing here the last 20-odd years."

He had been working on an exit strategy for a number of years and planned on putting time into some projects such as property development, teaching search and rescue, and running the annual Contact Epic mountain-bike race, Sgt Nicholson said.

The choice to retire from the police force also gave him the chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as skiing, climbing, hunting and multisport events "subject to permission from my wife", Sgt Nicholson said.

"I could've easily stayed in the job for another 10 years but then who knows? I could be 60 with two artificial hips and a worse back and not be able to do the things I want to do."

Sgt Nicholson moved to Wanaka from Auckland in 2001 after securing the role of officer-in-charge at the local station.

He remained in that position for about nine years and was responsible for co-ordinating search and rescue operations for the duration of his time in Wanaka.

While the town had grown significantly since, he still saw it as a "postage stamp" sized town.

"My impression is it's the same old town but it's just busier ... It's still a small town, but it's not going to stay that way."

The only issue with the growth was the dwindling "community connection and feel", he said, but noted the town attracted "great people" who made it "one of the safest places in the world to live".

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