slacky-uk

Is there any advice out there on the pros and cons of transfering as a Police Officer to NZ from UK.

jjennings

I'm not a police officer (I was a Special once - sad I know ) but my understanding from speaking with my local Community PC is that you have to go through basic training and 2 years probation again. She was a Sargent somewhere in Yorkshire but now she is back at the bottom (but happy).

Cheers,

John

Machlome

don't know but have just applied - if you find out anything - anything at all! let me know
M

Joshlin

hi slacky
my brother is a copper it the north island. he wasn't in the police in the uk, but next time i speak to him(probably the weekend) i'll see what he can tell me and let u know.

lee

slacky-uk

Likewise. If you hear anything send a post. I understand that the cut off date is 31st Oct 05.

slacky-uk

Thanks Lee,

The stuff I want to know at the moment is
What happens to the pension acrued in UK?
Do Officers keep their rank?
How does the salary compare with that of the UK? or to be more specific Does it go further than the UK equivalent?
How did NZ Police assist with move?


I recognise that your brother may not be able to answer some of these but if he has collegues who are former transferees from UK perhaps he could point them in the direction of this site to assist.

The big question is clearly; Is it worth pursuing?

slacky-uk

John,

Contact from her would be gold. I would be in a similar position and two years probation with loss of rank strikes the fear of God into me. However you state she is happy. This is encouraging and I would like to know more.

slacky-uk

Machlome

Get in contact. I'm 14501

jjennings

I don't know her personally, just had a chat a few weeks ago on the sea front. However, her name is Natalie Taylor and she is the Orewa Community Constable. She even has her own little office near the shops and the number is 00 64 9 4261118 (this is public information). Get yourself a phone card from the Post Office (costs about 2p/min to NZ) and give her a bell. She may have time to chat or maybe give you an email address. I'm pretty sure her OH is also a cop.

Rank system seems to be different over here in that they have Senior Constables that seem to be equivalent of Sargents and the Sargents are like Inspectors. At least that's how it appears to me.

Stuee

Hi Slacky

I used to be a cop in the Wilts Constab, I moved out here 5 years ago ( with some old trade qualifications), was going to join the Police but decided not to, in the Fire Brigade now in Central Auckland.

I know alot of the cops that came on the first intake a couple of years ago, I'll ask a mate of mine who is a DC here now if he minds swapping contact details with you and he can fill you in with all the good and bad. As I understand it it wasnt plain sailing for the first intake and alot of eyebrow raising stuff went on but its the first time the NZ Police have done it so they may be alot more switched on now.

Cheers and all the best

Ian

slacky-uk

Thanks. I'll give her a buzz.

slacky-uk

I'm intrigued and all ears if you can contact him that would be great.

virgob

Hi there. OH and I have also applied to NZ Police. Just been informed that they are no longer recruiting until 31st October as they have enough applicants already. So I guess we are now among about 700 applicants

Okay, some answers for you all. We managed to get the details of an ex Dublin cop who gave us quite a bit of info (regretted giving us his e mail and phone number in th end due to all the q's):

How long does transfer take to NZ Police from start to finish?
Last lot took from Nov to Feb in total. NZ police sort everything out for successful applicants.

What is the process?
Apply - interview/fitness- acceptance

Anything we can do to speed up the process?
No They do it all.

Where are we likely to be posted?
Auckland City or Manaku is where the last lot went, although I have received a response from HR and they intend to do it different this time and will probably post in numerous locations.

How long to promotion?
Can be as early as 6 months

What is required for promotion?
Basic exam and operational experience.

Is flexi time allowed in order to care for children during probationary period? No answer yet as this guy did not have children

start salary or length of training?
After tax about $2,400 per month (about £960 I think)

no overtime is paid. Do you do the extra hours for the love of the job or do you accrue it as time off in llieu
This guy has only ever done about 10 hours O/T since being there as there is little requirement. Any extra is TOIL. I also have friends who work in the CIB there (CID), they worked mega hours but took it as time off eventually so i guess it depends if you specialise or not.

Do we get any additional expenses on top of our wage (e.g.: Travel costs, shift allowance housing allowance etc. If so how much)?
About $6 per day if on shift work (just about pays for fuel).

What are rental costs like? About $300 per week for average property.


What are housing costs like? (copied the below from website but not sure how up to date they are:
April May
Northland $280,000 $284,000
Auckland $369,000 $386,000
Taranaki $162,600 $164,750
Waikato/ Gisborne $244,000 $259,000
Hawkes Bay $155,000 $240,500
Manawatu/Wanganui $155,000 $160,000
Wellington $275,000 $285,000
Nelson/ Marlborough $269,000 $265,000
Canterbury/ Westland $242,000 $247,500
Otago $216,100 $201,750
Southland $144,500 $150,000


Our main concern now is that all the houses for sale online are not very appealing. We dreamed of a house with a lot of land, swimming pool and by the beach. We now believe this was unrealistic and although a house by the beach may be possible it would pprobablyonly be a 3 bed (compared to the 4 bed we have now). If anyone can re build our dreams and inform us otherwise please do. our current property is about £230,000 with about £80, 000 of that as equity. No idea what mormortgage could afford due to our wage dropping drastically if we move to NZ.

Other concern is our children 12 & 13. Will they be bored. they are both into fitness (one is black belt in K boxing and plays footy and basketball) (other is into athletics & rugby) both are into girls and fashion and discos etc. Is this for them? We were probably considering Bay of plenty areas but have not completed our research yet.

Sorry for huge message but did not want to see you all wasting your time trying to get answers we have already got. Payback time.... If you have any further info let us know.

slacky-uk

Phew. Thanks for that. You have managed to gleen a lot. Interesting about the possibility of 6 month to promotion. I doubt that there are any guarantees on this though.

$2,400 in pocket at the end of the month with $1200 of that as rent is quite a hefty chunk and these are the sums I have come to work out too. With the likely hood that Auckland is the most likely posting it is probable that we too would loose a bedroom a retrograde step in my view.

If you hear more let me know as I will to this post. Good luck.

virgob

Thanks Slacky, I was surprised and thought I would get a lot of replies but is all quiet so far. Come on everyone else...... share your info good,bad and ugly.

Desperately seeking NZ ers