Kiwi cops beating it to the Top End: NZ Police ‘can’t compete’ with NT pay and perks

Nearly 40 Kiwi cops are packing their bags for the Northern Territory, with a senior New Zealand officer saying they can’t compete with the pay and perks.

Harry Brill

2 min read

August 21, 2025 - 4:21PM

God Defend New Zealand... because their cops are leaving in droves.

Northern Territory

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Nearly 40 New Zealand police officers are heading for the Territory, with a senior Kiwi cop saying New Zealand “can’t compete” with the Northern Territory’s lucrative pay packages.

The confession was made in an interview with Radio New Zealand (RNZ) last week after the Kiwi media outlet discovered 36 of their own officers had been poached by the NT Police.

RNZ reported 17 Kiwis had already completed their bridging course and were currently deployed across the Territory, while another 19 were in the midst of their training.

NZ police officers are becoming a prime recruiting target for officials in Darwin. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

NZ Police assistant commissioner Tusha Penny told RNZ that Darwin was outbidding Wellington.

“I think the nature of the game now with policing, is we are always going to have a portion of our officers do what I’d probably call a policing OE [overseas experience]- that’s not uncommon now,” she told RNZ.

“The reality is we can’t compete if they are after money alone.”

NT Police are offered better pay and allowances than New Zealand cops.

Ms Penny’s comments are backed by figures.

A first-year police officer in the Territory can expect to earn $111,000 compared to $83,000 in New Zealand.

Additionally, NT Police officers are entitled to a $20,000 relocation bonus, as well as a housing allowance of more than $31,000.

The discrepancy is being exploited by the NT Police, who have sought to fix its own retention troubles by dangling a lucrative carrot to those in Aotearoa.

In July 2024, former Police Minister Brent Potter vowed to keep marketing in New Zealand, maintaining Kiwis had more to gain in Australia than in their home country.

NT Police have launched roadshow events in New Zealand cities, including Auckland (pictured).

Later that year, Kiwi-turned-Aussie cop, senior sergeant Jason Thackeray, was one of the men who led a NT Police delegation to Auckland, Wellington, Whakatane and Taupo.

Before departing, Thackeray told this masthead “the disparity is huge”.

“The pay is considerably better (in the NT Police) than the New Zealand police,” he said.

“The wages haven’t really gone up for New Zealand police officers, but you could easily earn double the amount with the NT Police as long as you work hard, you’re a good worker and willing to go out into the communities.”

Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro was criticised at a conference last week by NTPA president Nathan Finn.

However, while Kiwi interest surges, Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro continues to fight an uphill battle to retain her existing workforce.

At a conference last week, she was blasted by NT Police Association President Nathan Finn, who took aim at the government’s retention bonus and salary increase offer.

However, Ms Finocchiaro stood firm and claimed cop numbers were improving, saying retention was down to 5.6 per cent compared to 8.8 per cent previously.