A new police training base is set to open in Auckland.
The facility, located in the city, is part of a larger effort by the coalition government to increase frontline police numbers. Associate Police Minister Casey Costello says the base will allow police to attract and train quality officers from New Zealand's largest market. This supplement's existing training at the Police College in Porirua. The new base will also be used for senior training courses.
The announcement is seen as a concrete example of the government's commitment to increasing frontline police numbers, with a goal of adding 500 officers. Last year's budget allocated $191 million for recruitment and training, along with $34.6 million in capital to equip police effectively. The investment aims to improve the recruitment pipeline and get quality recruits onto the streets faster.
The new base is expected to be a useful resource not only for police but also other agencies. Ms Costello says the government will continue to support police efforts to make New Zealand's communities safer, with law and order improvements a key focus.