The Northern Territory Police Force is back in New Zealand, interviewing experienced officers and promoting six-figure packages with housing support.
New Zealand Police say the Australian campaigns here have “become more aggressive”.
Northern Territory Police have been interviewing candidates in multiple centres this month.
NZ Police’s cheeky new ad to lure Kiwi officers back to NZ – Watch on TVNZ+
So far, NZ Police confirmed to 1News it has received more than 670 vetting requests from Australian jurisdictions over the past two years. At least 212 officers resigned to take up jobs across the Tasman, while 16 have recently contacted police about returning home.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told 1News: “Those Australian campaigns in our country have become more aggressive.”
Chambers said he has queried the campaign directly with his counterparts. “I said, ‘look, can you explain this? Why do you come to New Zealand to recruit my colleagues?’ And his response to that was, ‘because you produce great police officers’. Well, I can’t argue with that. And I said, ‘well, I just wish you’d put a little more effort into growing your own maybe over there’.”
What the Northern Territory offers
Northern Territory Police Acting Superintendent Serge Bouma said his team was back in New Zealand for more hiring. “We’ve been ramping up our recruitment, probably post Covid significantly. So we have been going to other other states, and New Zealand a number of cases. I think this is probably the fourth time in the last two or so years.”
He said the Northern Territory has “employed 87 experienced police officers, not just from New Zealand” since early 2023 and that “out of those, we’ve lost four”. Asked how many were from New Zealand, Bouma said it was “somewhere between 50 and 60.”
Bouma described the employment offers as transparent. “We hold info sessions at various locations, not just in New Zealand, but in the interstate locations as well, where we lay everything out on the table.
“It’s a warts and all sort of discussion. Benefits… all the lifestyle benefits that policing in the territory can bring family benefits. But we also are realistic about the tough work that police do and and some of the tough challenges and environments that are faced, particularly in the territory. You know, we have some extremes of climate.”
On incentives, Bouma said housing support was a major draw. “One of the big, big ticket items that we offer to every single sworn police officer is housing, housing support.” If officers do not take a department-leased home, “we will supplement your income at I think currently, it’s just shy of $32,000 a year over and above your normal income as a tax allowance.”
On pay after training, Bouma said: “A new constable would be on about $140,000 Australian.” He added that allowances, penalties and overtime also apply.
Bur Bouma said salary alone should not be the deciding factor. “If your motivation is purely the money, then find something else where you can have lots of money. Maybe put money on the stock market.”
Chambers says many ‘want to come home’
Chambers acknowledged the gap. “The money that they can earn in Australia is more than here in New Zealand. I accept that. That’s often the lure for many.”
He said some former officers now in Australia are reconsidering. “Many of them do want to come home. And even in recent weeks, so I’ve had 16 reach out who want to come back.”
He also defended the quality of New Zealand policing. “New Zealand police is amongst the finest police forces in the world, if not the best.”
But Chambers said he expected professional courtesy when overseas teams operated here. “I can understand why they’re doing what they’re doing, but yeah, of course I would rather they didn’t.”
Chambers said police were increasing domestic recruitment and training throughput. “By the time Christmas arrives, we will have recruited and graduated nearly 800 new constables.” He said “attrition is about 4.8%” at present, and police were also assisting Kiwis in Australian forces who wanted to return. “We are about to head over to Australia to help them come home.”
By the numbers
- 670+ vetting requests from Australian jurisdictions to NZ Police in the past two years
- 212 officers resigned to take up roles in Australia
- 16 former officers have recently contacted NZ Police about returning
- 87 experienced officers hired by Northern Territory Police since early 2023
- 50 to 60 of those hires are from New Zealand, according to NT Police
- Example NT package after training: about A$140,000, including either rent-free housing or about A$32,000 housing allowance.
NT defends recruiting in New Zealand
Bouma said the approach is standard. “I’m not doing anything different to what any other recruiter around the world does for any other industry. I’m looking for talent, and I’m finding talent in all around Australia and in New Zealand.”
He added that many Kiwis do also choose to return home. “Everyone I’ve spoken to in New Zealand will always be home. And I have no doubt that the majority of them at some point in their lives, whether it be while they’re still policing or when they retire, they will come back to New Zealand.”
