Previous constabulary members rejoining Police is a fantastic way to bring back experience, help staff hard-to-fill locations and contribute to the delivery of the 500 additional officers.
More focus and resource has been going into rejoin applications and the process for getting rejoins back on board has been refined.
Since the start of the year, 48 rejoin applicants have received letters of offer, with the majority already back in work within Police. There are currently more than 100 people going through the recruitment process to rejoin, with new names added to this pipeline each week.
Several officers who've recently rejoined have been sharing their experiences and telling us why it's good to be back. You can read the first of their stories below.
If you are considering getting back in blue, or know someone who left Police who is thinking about rejoining, the best time to apply is right now. Submit an application via or if you have any questions contact rejoins@police.govt.nz.
David
David graduated in Wing 309 in November 2017, and was one of 10 in his wing who headed to Counties Manukau District.
He left Police in November 2022 as he felt he needed a change, so he became a real estate agent. After realising he missed the camaraderie of policing, and the varied and exciting pace of police work, he rejoined in October 2023.
“I just missed the people and how we all interact together, maybe I should have considered leave without pay instead," he says.
"Working with each other the way we do in Police - it can’t be replicated anywhere else. It’s good to be back.
"Rejoining was a smooth process for me, especially since I’d only been away for less than a year. Everything was clearly laid out and the support from recruitment made it straightforward.
"Since being back, what I’ve enjoyed most was connecting with the team and getting back into the work that really matters. You just can’t beat the sense of purpose and camaraderie here!
"If someone’s thinking about leaving, I’d just say to make sure you’re clear on why you want to go. Sometimes a change within the organisation, or even a short break, can give you what you’re looking for without stepping away entirely.
"And if they do leave - just know the door is open and coming back is easier than you might think.”
Cam
Cam joined Police in 2015 as part of Wing 294 but left after six-and-a-half years as he wasn’t enjoying his role in a larger police station.
After a short stint at the local freezing works, he realised it wasn’t police work he’d gone off, it was the area he was policing in that wasn’t the right fit.
He’s now loving his job at a three-person station doing community policing in the Bay of Plenty.
“I returned to Police in under a year, so I didn’t have go back to the college to train again," says Cam.
"I had to re-sit some frontline skills training to get up to speed again but it was relatively straight forward.”