The move to recruit more police officers for the regions and to tackle organised crime has been put on hold because of the demand for officers at managed isolation hotels.
The police had wanted to put 160 new staff into the organised crime unit but instead they were sent to MIQ facilities after a request for help.
The police have told the government that means some regions could miss out on new officers for some time, and other priority areas could suffer.
RNZ police reporter Ben Strang spoke to Philippa Tolley.
