NT Police announce information sessions for New Zealand

As the NT Police prepares a talent scouting trip to New Zealand, a former Kiwi cop has opened up on the better pay, allowances and adventures available in the Territory.

NT Police will be holding an information session in Auckland. Picture: Supplied.

Better pay, adventure and family opportunities are some of the selling points NT Police will draw upon when they meet their Kiwi counterparts this month.

In a bid to lure New Zealand talent across the ditch, the NT Police have organised four information sessions on Aotearoa’s North Island aimed at shedding light on the possible opportunities awaiting them in the Australian outback.

A team of Territorian officers will tour Auckland, Wellington, Whakatane and Taupo in search of new applicants, with interviews also offered for those keen to move to the tropics.

One of the men who will represent the Territory is former Kiwi cop Jason Thackeray, who served in the New Zealand police force for 11 years.

NT Police officer Senior Sergeant Jason Thackeray picked up his life and moved to the Territory from New Zealand. Picture: Harry Brill

The Senior Sergeant said the Territory offered average Kiwi cops a significant upgrade.

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

“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.”

Beyond the salary bump, Thackeray hailed the additional benefits available to an NT Police officer.

“If you work in remote areas in the Territory you get a little bit of extra money to support you, like housing (allowances),” he said.

“New Zealand police don’t have anything like that – they don’t even pay overtime, so a police officer in Auckland who has to pay $1000 a fortnight rent gets the same wage as a police officer in a small coastal town who pays $300 a week of rent.

“The disparity is huge.”

Thackeray says NZ cops are prepared for the policing demands in the Territory. Picture: Michael Craig/NZ Herald

As for why a Kiwi copper should pick the Territory over the glamour of the Gold Coast or Perth, Thackeray cited the “adventure” card.

“One thing we have found since living here is (my family) had never travelled really to southeast Asia,” he said.

“It’s a lot easier here and a lot cheaper too, so you can have some good holidays.”

Despite having to transition to a new country, Thackeray maintained Kiwi cops were well-prepared for Australia’s cultural landscape.

“We’re brought up really culturally aware and I think that’s what makes it a lot easier when we come over here to work with the Indigenous people,” he said.

“And that’s why they’re quite accepting of us as well and I think training is training everywhere you go – I have found training a little bit different here in the Territory compared to New Zealand, but they’re all at quite a high level.”

Originally published as NT Police announce information sessions for New Zealand