At 18, Raymond Wong arrived in Aotearoa as an international student, navigating language barriers, culture shock (remember when shops closed at 5!), and the challenge of finding his place. Two years later he joined NZ Police, eventually becoming the country’s first full-time Asian Ethnic Police Liaison (2003). Over 22+ years he helped pioneer community policing with Asian and refugee communities—building trust in places where police were once feared, recruiting local volunteers, and using his multilingual skills to bridge crises big and small. As a father, cases like the kidnapping of a young girl hit close to home, reminding him that empathy is the heart of service. Raymond reflects on resilience, teamwork, and humility—crediting colleagues, community, and his wife’s steadfast support. From tracing his roots back to Fuzhou to mentoring younger staff, his message to new migrants is simple: stay humble, listen, learn, and use common sense about safety. This is a story of becoming—a migrant, a parent, and a bridge-builder—shaped by Aotearoa New Zealand.