colleen– security officer, christchurch

A long and varied career at Armourguard has made Colleen a ‘Jill of all Security Trades and Master of Many.’

These days Christchurch-based Colleen works as a security officer doing guarding and some logistics transportation work. But over the nearly 21 years since joining us, she has also done a range of supervisory, security patrol and administrative roles.

Her first job with Armourguard involved a combination of static guarding at a WINZ office as well as guarding crime scenes and doing security on movie sets.

The crime scene work was interesting but not scary because Colleen never had to witness anything disturbing. “Seeing the scene preservation procedures was fascinating as was seeing what goes on when police and others are working at a crime scene”, she says.

Colleen also enjoyed dealing with freedom campers: “I met so many lovely people from all over the world. I loved hearing them talk about their experience in New Zealand, what country they were from and comparing it to here.”

She says being an older woman in security definitely helps in some situations. “When I arrive at a noise control job I can often hear people swearing and cursing inside. When they answer the door they’re clearly expecting a male and then they see me like their mother or grandmother and immediately brings down the aggression levels.

“It’s one of the few times in life where having some grey hairs is an advantage!”

Pono – Hamilton Cashfloor Supervisor

As a mother of four, Pono has mastered the art of multi-tasking, balancing the dynamic demands of both her professional and family life with dedication and resilience.

Pono joined Armourguard 10 years ago, beginning her career in a Cash-in-Transit (CIT) and first-line maintenance role. Reflecting on that time, she says, “I really enjoyed that job and felt so lucky to be paid for travelling the country, meeting new people and learning about our services with banks and cash logistics customers.”

She remained in that role for four years before taking time out to welcome one of her children. Upon returning to work five years ago, she rejoined the CIT team for a year before stepping into her current position as Cashfloor Supervisor, based in Hamilton.

Pono describes her role as being much like a Head Chef in a marae kitchen — ensuring every station is covered and that everything runs seamlessly. In the same way, she oversees more than two dozen day and night shift team members, bringing them together to operate as one cohesive unit. Alongside leading her team, she also supports dispatch operations, fleet coordination, and deposit management.

Despite her leadership responsibilities, Pono has never forgotten her frontline roots. “I always think from the perspective of the people in my cashfloor team and out on the road. The mahi can’t get done if leaders like me forget to acknowledge and appreciate the mahi they continue to do for the business.”

Balancing work and family life has not always been easy, but Pono credits her strong whānau support network and the managers she has worked with over the years for helping her succeed. Deeply family-oriented, she brings those same values into the Hamilton branch, fostering a supportive and unified environment within her team.