The fight for better pay continues for Kiwi cops amid ongoing negotiations.
Video / NZHerald
Canterbury cops set up donation box for struggling officers
Move comes during ongoing pay battle with the Government
Wife of senior detective reveals his salary has only just doubled almost 20 years since he joined
Public say police pay “disgusting”
Police officers in Canterbury are collecting food donations for colleagues “struggling”with the cost of living as their battle with the Government for better pay continues.
The request for donations comes as police continue to fight the Government for a wage increase.
Earlier this month the Government made an offer including a $5000 general wage increase backdated from November 1, 2023, and a 5.25 per cent in police allowances.
That would have been followed by a general wage increase of 4 per cent from September 1, 2024, with an allowance increase of 4 per cent, followed by another pay increase of 4 per cent from July 1, 2025, accompanied by an allowance increase of 4 per cent.
Police have rejected pay offers from the Government, calling them 'insulting'. Photo / Alex Cairns
The Police Association rejected the offer, and staff said it was “insulting”.
Yesterday the Herald reported that the Government had made a further offer for sworn staff to vote on.
The terms of the revised offer suggest the Government managed to cough up $200-$250 million more for the offer, including paid overtime from July next year and a $1500 lump sum payment in lieu of more back pay.
Police Association president Chris Cahill sent staff an email with the latest offer and advised he did not believe it would be possible to negotiate for more so if it was rejected, it would go to arbitration.
The post appeared online soon after.
“So, for those that think the pay offer isn’t so bad. This is currently somewhere in the Canterbury district,” the caption said.
“Think long and hard before voting. Some of your colleagues are really struggling, and this should never be the case.
“We need to make sure those that put theirs lives on the line when they go to work can afford to look after their families.”
The partner of a senior detective spoke to the Herald about her family’s situation.
“(He) has been in the police almost twenty years, he is a detective sergeant and over the past few years works a second job a few times a month in order to cover the extra costs life brings,” she said.
“I also work full time - but with three kids, we still live week to week.
“He has a dangerous and stressful job and the salary does not reflect the pressure and stress, both current and long term, he endures.
“In the first time in his career, he is starting to think of career opportunities outside the police.”
The woman said police will, and have already lost good officers
“They will not be able to attract the numbers needed with such low salaries… (my husband) runs a team of detectives and in 17 years his salary has only just doubled.
“They see the worst of society… it’s a bit of a thankless job.”
There was much support for the food donation initiative online.
“I hope more people quit and/or move to Aussie and less people apply to be cops. It’s gonna have to turn to sh*t before they realise how important it is to pay us properly,” said one police staffer.
Another had advice for anyone thinking of joining police.
“Don’t. Or if you do, just be aware of the low pay, being overworked, treated like sh*t, tired all the time, not being allowed to progress as there aren’t enough frontline cops and you have no say in where they put you.
“If you do decide to join, and you decide it’s not for you - then leave. There is no shame in that.”
A third said: “In 21 years I can’t remember it being this bad.”
“The association is aware that the local Christchurch association committee has established a collection box for food donations to assist colleagues who they understand are struggling with current cost of living pressures,” he told the Herald.
“This is a genuine local initiative - but it has not been instigated by our national office.
“It demonstrates that the concerns we have raised about police staff struggling with the cost of living crisis is real.
“Police staff should not be in this position and I know the public will be concerned to hear this is the case.”
Members of the public posted comments in support of the food donation initiative.
“Keen to donate some supermarket vouchers to wherever this is, please message me,” said one woman.
“Our everyday heroes should not be struggling like this.”
Another wrote: “Fabulous work from our blue family helping each other - but the fact our families are struggling this much is just disgusting.”
“The government should be embarrassed that’s cops need food donations to live. No one I know joins a job to go into a food bank queue,” a serving officer said.
A source said that this week’s offer was “not going down well” amongst staff with a concern they would not get the overtime rate proposed.
”It will be managed so they can’t get it,” said the source.
The lump sum payment was labelled a “bribe” and the 4 per cent was less than inflation.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Photo / Mark Mitchell.
Police rejected an offer from the previous government in September last year, which included a permanent $4000 pay increase backdated to April last year and a 4 per cent increase from April this year.
Cahill earlier said back pay remained a central issue, and argued police had been waiting months for a pay offer that had been delayed. He believed no offer would be agreed to without back pay to July last year.
He said there had been an “unprecedented” response from association members critical of the offer. Cahill said it was stark just how “hand-to-mouth” some officers were living, including waiting for payday to clear their bills and resorting to using food banks.
The Herald confirmed that of the 200 police officers who resigned from the New Zealand police last year, 50 are already working as police officers across the Tasman.
Another 70 are waiting to leave New Zealand, with promises of tax-free sign-on fees as well as relocation costs of up to $25k. A police source said 25 officers from the Counties-Manukau police hub are in that waiting group.
Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz
