Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
There are hopes a new police college campus in Auckland will help attract more recruits.
A class of 40 officers in training; 33 from Auckland and seven from Northland, were welcomed at the opening of the Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC) campus in Albany on Tuesday morning.
They will be the first recruits to do their 20 weeks of police training in Auckland. Previously, the only police college site had been in Porirua, Wellington.
Last month, an audit found recruitment standards at the Porirua College were slipping as police tried to meet recruitment targets.
Police facility manager Inspector Matt Laurenson said the college's Wellington location had been a deterrent to some police hopefuls in the upper North Island.
"Numerous people, particularly those with families concerned about childcare, have been waiting for this opportunity," Inspector Laurenson said.
"For recruits and staff to be trained here in Tāmaki Makaurau... it's a good location and it removes a lot of the challenges we've previously had."
Recruits from wing 390 at the powhiri for the opening of the new campus in Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel
The new facility leased by Massey University was equipped with dorms, classrooms, a locker room, and storage space, as well as access to the University's gym and recreation facilities.
However, Auckland recruits would still have to spend five weeks in Porirua for some aspects of their training.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Key was at the campus opening. He said it was an honour to be the patron for the college's first recruit wing.
He said expanding police training to the country's most populous city was a step towards the government reaching its target of 500 new officers.
"The bulk of the New Zealand population live North of Taupō and being able to attract recruits who otherwise wouldn't be able to come to Wellington for 20 weeks is important," Key said.
"For many, their policing will take place in Auckland. It's a progressive step police are taking."
He looked forward to his new role supporting the next generation of officers.
Speaking at the opening, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said as well as training newbies, the new site leased from Massey University would host senior police courses.
"In recent years we have had to provide more senior courses online and in districts to improve efficiency and to free up space for recruit training at RNZPC in Wellington."
He said some courses they offered needed to be in-person and a new facility would allow enough space for their growing police force.
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