The shoulder mounted rank structure on the epaulettes was introduced in the New Zealand Police from 2000. Prior to this, the NCO's has their insignia on the right sleeve. These events took place in the 1990's so the epaulette insignia wasn't introduced then.
The identikit image was widely circulated around Palmerston North, including canvassing at the New Zealand vs Great Britain rugby league test match that was played at the Palmerston North Showgrounds on October 25th, 1996.