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Training
When you have been accepted as a New Zealand Police recruit, you will study for 19 weeks at the Royal New Zealand Police College, based in Porirua, just north of Wellington. There are about nine intakes a year of between 60 and 80 recruits. Each intake is called a “Wing”. Wings are between six and eight weeks apart. You can go home at your own cost during weekends. However, there will be the occasional weekend where you will need to stay at the College. While training at the Police College you will be paid $34,962.05 gross per annum (total package $38,730.59). Upon graduation you will earn a salary of $50,141 gross per annum (total package $56,137).
Course Content
The course provides recruits with practical, hands-on policing skills. It covers legislation, police procedures, technical knowledge and operational skills. Below is a list of the general subjects that are covered as part of the training.
Police Studies
Police Studies is a major part of the course and covers the legal aspects of police procedures and the practical application of the procedures. Recruits cover the core knowledge and skills needed by police officers and put these into practice in a series of policing scenarios. The Police Studies component of the course is intense and recruits need to keep up to date with their work from day one.
Recruits get a chance to test what they have learned during a week spent at their home station on field experience. The week includes being assigned to assist a police officer on watchhouse, traffic or beat duties.
Defensive Tactics
This part of the course requires a good level of fitness. A lot of emphasis is placed on self-defence. In these sessions you learn about handcuffing, baton and OC spray use, open and closed hand techniques and calming and restraining techniques.
Firearms Training
Firearms training takes place in the College’s indoor range. Training covers marksmanship with pistol and rifle, law and policy about the use of force, safety and related tactics.
Driver Training
Recruits learn advanced driving techniques to enable them to drive to a very high standard under pressure. Training covers risk and pursuit management, hazard perception and awareness, skid management, advanced driving techniques, point duty at intersections and vehicle crashes, initial management at a crash scene and vehicle stop tactics.
Computer training
Recruits are expected to have some basic computer skills before arriving at the College. The computer training course comprises 20 lessons covering off-the-shelf products such as Microsoft Word and police-specific applications such as the National Intelligence Application (NIA).
Once you have completed the assessments, you will work as a probationary constable for two years and undertake a variety of assessments, before becoming a general duties constable.
What happens after my training?
You will work as a probationary constable for two years. During this time you will need to meet a number of requirements. You will be required to demonstrate competency in 10 key workplace areas. Your supervisor will monitor your performance against the required standards and you will present evidence of your work to an independent workplace assessor to prove your competence.
You will also be required to pass a Victoria University distance course: EPSY142 - Understanding Human Behaviour - working with people.
During this initial two years you are likely to stay in the district you were recruited for. After the successful completion of these assessments you will become a constable and have the opportunity to apply for opportunities in other districts when vacancies come available.
Ongoing professional development
If you are planning on seeking promotion or developing more specialist skills, you will be required to undertake further university study and/or meet other police requirements.
There are a raft of career paths open to you depending on your interests and skills. See Careers A-Z.