8 Aug 2023

'Cheeky' campaign to poach NZ's police officers over the ditch

From Checkpoint, 5:43 pm on 8 August 2023

It poaching season. Queensland police are looking to recruit New Zealand officers to the sunshine state, with the promise of "warmer days and higher pays".

The police union in New Zealand says the campaign could erode Aotearoa's front line, with the sweeteners pretty attractive to younger officers.

The Queensland campaign is using kiwi converts as bait. Queensland police are describing it as a cheeky campaign, but Superintendent Renee Kurtz acknowledges it's a serious push, because they need 1450 international recruits in the next 18 months.