Palmerston North-based Youth Aid officer Senior Constable Grant Watts says official recognition for his work is humbling.

But being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2026 New Year Honours for services to Police and youth is not what drives him, it’s the difference he can make that matters most.

Grant is quick to share the credit for the royal recognition, pointing to his family. Their support has been crucial in helping him manage the emotional demands of the job.

“They have put up with me disappearing at all times or being really quiet… So it definitely is a big thing for them. They think it's pretty cool that maybe Dad has done OK.”

Grant’s policing career is far from conventional. He joined Police in 2007 at age 41, driven by a desire to give back to society. He credits his first sergeant, Doug Seal, for recognising the value of his life experience and trusting him with difficult jobs early on.

One of those included staying with a young drowning victim while her body was at the morgue – an experience Grant says shaped him and confirmed his resolve to work with rangatahi.

After just three years in Police, he secured a role in Youth Aid.

During the Covid lockdowns, Grant was the sole Youth Aid officer in the area, and social isolation and disruption was contributing to a spike in youth reoffending. Today, he works as part of a team of six officers focused on early intervention and keeping rangatahi from reoffending.

He is a firm believer in prevention: “If we get this part right, it saves a lot of work and heartache for both police and young people.”

About 80% of the young people whose cases he reviews never reoffend – a statistic Grant and the team are proud of.

By surrounding these kids with the right support, whether through positive peer groups, school engagement or simply showing that someone cares, outcomes can shift. “It doesn’t always happen,” says Grant, “but it happens enough.”

At the heart of his approach is trust. Grant is aware the blue uniform can be intimidating, so he prefers not to wear it when first meeting young people and their families.

“I’ve appreciated my senior managers who have allowed me to do Youth Aid the way I’ve wanted, and I’ve never taken that for granted.”

Grant says rangatahi value being listened to, being respected and being held accountable. “Once you realise that, you know how to deal with them, how you can talk to them, believe them. And once they're believed, that's when you’ve got a hook and can make a real difference.”

Working with parents is another major part of the role. Many, he says, are doing the best they can with limited resources, and judgment must always be left at the door.

“I haven’t met a parent yet – even a gang member’s parent – who didn’t want the best for their kid.”

Reflecting on his career and the New Year honour, Grant is chuffed that the work of Youth Aid is being recognised. “This honour may have been given out individually, but it was certainly not earnt that way.”

What matters most hasn’t changed: “The money is not the most important factor for me. I want to work with young people as long as I possibly can, because it does make a difference. It’s who I am, who I want to be.”

Recently, while transporting a young boy, Grant asked whether he still had something to offer at his age. “You’re like the koro,” the boy replied. “You’re like the grandfather.”

For Grant, it was a simple but powerful confirmation that he still has something meaningful to give.