New Zealand Police

The New Zealand Police is the national police force that is responsible for enforcing the criminal law, traffic law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace in New Zealand.

Table of contents

1 Origin and History
2 Arms
3 Organisation
4 External link

Origin and History

The New Zealand Police was first established in 1840 along the lines of similar constabuaries that existed in Britain at that time. The constabuary was initially part police and part militia. It was known as the Armed Constabuary after 1867 and took part in land wars against Maori opposed to colonial expansion at that time.

The Police force was established as a national force under the Police Act in 1886. In 1958 the word force was removed from the name when legislation was revised.

During the 1981 Springbock Tour, the Police formed two riot squads known as Red Squad and Blue Squad to control anti-aparteid protesters who laid seige to rugby fields where the touring team was playing.

In July 1985, New Zealand Police arrested two French Security Service operatives after the Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland. The rapid arrest was attributed to the high level of public support for the investigation.

In the early 1990s, the Traffic Safety Service of the Ministry of Transport was merged with the Police. Up until that time the Ministry of Transport and local councils had been responsible for traffic law enforcement. In 2001, the Police re-established a specialist road policing branch known as the Highway Partol. Today the Police are responsible for enforcing traffic law while local councils enforce parking regulations.

More recently, New Zealand Police have been involved in peacekeeping missions to East Timor and the Solomon Islands, to assist these countries with establishing law and order after civil wars.