A training facility for new recruits in Auckland will open this year. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Police say a training facility for new recruits in Auckland will open this year.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the extra training facility, alongside the Police College in Porirua, was a step towards delivering on a target of 500 extra officers.
He made the announcement after running in Auckland's Round the Bays run on Sunday morning.
"Having a training wing open in Auckland is an important part of our plan," he said. "We know that being away from home for 20 weeks has been a deterrent for many people wanting to join police."
Police had been working to reduce the time between applying for a role and entering recruit training.
Chambers said the Auckland base should speed things up further.
People in the Auckland wing would be able to stay at their own home during training.
From Monday, recruits will have the option of selecting Auckland.
Police said the number of police graduates had been hit by an increase in the length of training introduced in early 2024.
From July to December 2024, police received 5277 applications - more than double the same period for 2023.
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello said it was hoped the Auckland centre would attract new officers from the country's largest city and supplement work in the Police College.
"We want police to do all that they can to drive recruitment, increase the number of police and to make our communities safer and that's exactly what they're doing."
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