Police Minister Mark Mitchell is keen to find how out New Zealand and Australia can share more ideas around dealing with crime and emergency management. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Police Minister Mark Mitchell will be chewing the fat with police chiefs in Australia from Friday as officers in this country talk openly about the appeal of crossing the Tasman.
Mitchell has been invited to the annual Police Ministers Council (PMC) meeting in Canberra.
Police ministers and commissioners from across Australia will discuss several topics including serious and organised crime, firearms, and youth offending, the minister said.
It would be an opportunity to gain insights on what was working in Australia, share New Zealand's position on criminal issues, and discuss areas for more collaboration.
"When crime trends occur in Australia, they tend to come to New Zealand's shores soon after. Staying ahead of these is key to making sure we meet the government's goal to restore law and order," Mitchell said.
However, there was no mention in his media release of Australia's efforts to attract New Zealand officers or the discontent that saw them overwhelmingly reject the government's latest pay offer last month.
Police pay has now been sent to arbitration with employment law specialist Vicki Campbell appointed to determine which of the final offers from the government and the Police Association would be adopted.
The arbitrator accepts one side or the other with no room for compromise.
Police Association president Chris Cahill said: "Anecdotally what we're hearing is there's a large number of staff considering the move to Australia but they want to see the outcome of this so that they're making equal comparisons with what is on offer and what they will be getting.
"So there is an argument that delays in this process has delayed a larger exodus as well."
An officer who moved to Australia 10 years ago after 20 years in the New Zealand police said he would not consider coming back because officers here weren't being paid enough.
The officer, who RNZ has agreed not to name, said Australian staff were paid for overtime and conditions were better.
While crime continues to make headlines in New Zealand, Australia has also been experiencing a significant amount of violent crime.
Last weekend rallies in several cities drew thousands of people who called for an end to violence against women - 27 have been killed so far this year, almost double the number at the same time in 2023, the ABC reports.
Last month six people were stabbed to death in the Bondi shopping mall and three days later a teen was arrested after a bishop was wounded in a church stabbing, also in Sydney.
Meanwhile, during his visit Mitchell intends meeting with emergency management colleagues.
He said he was keen to pick up any ideas that could work in New Zealand, "particularly as I consider the findings of the inquiry into last year's devastating weather events".