New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has called on his Northern Territory counterpart for a “please explain” after learning that Australian police recruiters are once again targeting New Zealand officers.
Australia’s Northern Territory Police are renewing their recruitment campaign in New Zealand, with a team set to visit Auckland, Rotorua, Napier, Wellington, and Christchurch in the coming weeks to attract Kiwi officers to move across the Tasman.
Commissioner Chambers said he would have appreciated a courtesy phone call before the campaign began.
As reported by RNZ, “Well, interestingly enough, I was in Hobart last week for a meeting with all the police commissioners across Australia,” Chambers told Morning Report. “When I learnt of Northern Territory coming back out here, I said ‘please explain why you’re coming over here and poaching my colleagues?’ And the answer was pretty honest actually. They said it’s because New Zealand produces such incredible police officers.”
While acknowledging the compliment, Chambers said he wished the Northern Territory would focus more on developing their own recruitment rather than relying on New Zealand’s pool of experienced officers.
He admitted there has always been some friendly competition between the two countries but emphasized that professional courtesy would have gone a long way.
The renewed recruitment effort coincides with New Zealand Police launching their own campaign to bring officers back home. Chambers recently appeared in a YouTube advertisement urging Kiwi officers working in Australia to return, citing stronger camaraderie and community support within New Zealand Police.
“Many get lured over to Australia because of the money,” Chambers said. “But frankly, that’s about it. What I’m hearing from those coming home is that they miss their families, friends, and the sense of belonging here. Some have said they lack support from their bosses and find conditions in Australia pretty harsh,” quoted RNZ.
He added that 16 officers had already reached out since the campaign’s release.
Meanwhile, Northern Territory Police recruiter Serge Bouma defended the recruitment drive, saying it had already generated significant interest.
“We’ve got 21 people on our books already,” Bouma said. “That’s not to say everyone will make it through the process, but there’s definitely strong interest. About half of those are current police in New Zealand, and the rest are civilians looking to join,” reported RNZ.
Bouma said the Northern Territory’s Accelerated Recruitment Program typically takes 24 applicants per squad, with two squads a year, two-thirds of whom have been sourced from New Zealand recently.
He highlighted attractive incentives, including free housing or a housing allowance of AUD 31,847 per year, and a starting salary of AUD 95,000 during training, which rises to about AUD 122,000 after graduation, equivalent to roughly NZD 132,000.
“Anyone that comes over, we’ll supply housing,” Bouma said. “And after training, they also receive allowances and overtime opportunities,” as quoted by RNZ.
The Northern Territory team plans to hold information sessions at each location in New Zealand to meet applicants and discuss the realities of policing in Australia’s remote northern regions.
“Obviously, the Northern Territory is quite a unique place,” Bouma noted. “We’ll talk about the climate, isolation, and what the job entails, but also the great opportunities it provides,” reported RNZ.
Despite the lure of higher pay, Chambers remains optimistic that New Zealand’s sense of community and work culture will continue to draw officers back home.
“There’s a lot more to policing than just the paycheck,” he said. “It’s about purpose, connection, and the people you serve alongside, and that’s something New Zealand Police do best,” RNZ reported.
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