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There is more than 10,300 staff in New Zealand Police, of which 75% are police officers (including traffic police, undercover and uniformed officers) and 25% are support staff. Uniformed officers, who patrol on foot and in cars, are easy to spot, as they generally wear blue trousers, a light blue shirt, a tie and peaked cap. The NZ police force is generally considered to be one of the least corrupt in the world, which isn’t to say there aren’t occasional reports of misconduct, but means that officers are easily approachable and willing to give advice.

Constables, while in possession of batons and pepper spray, do not carry firearms, although some special units are equipped with guns.

The force is divided into 12 districts across the country. The larger of these, in Auckland and Wellington, are well resourced with numerous local stations and a regular presence on the streets, particularly in urban areas. In isolated rural communities with small populations, however, it’s not uncommon for stations to be manned by a lone officer.