KEY POINTS:
Police are trying out six new shirt options after finding their uniform too hot to wear under stab-resistant vests.
The vests previously caused problems for police when about 2000 of them had to be put into storage because they were too small.
Inspector Brett Kane said the shirts were being trialled as a priority in the wider review of the New Zealand police uniform being undertaken.
"We're conscious of the concerns raised by staff wearing [the vests] and are addressing this as a matter of urgency," he said in the police Ten-One magazine.
The four- to six-week trial, undertaken by 62 staff around the country, would focus on how the fabrics addressed heat and comfort, he said.
"We're hoping the new shirt will more effectively transfer the build-up of sweat away from the body, making the wearer feel more comfortable."
Until a vendor was chosen, he could not say when the shirts would be delivered to staff.
Mr Kane said the overall review of the police uniform aimed to address inconsistencies to ensure all sworn and non-sworn police staff had a readily identifiable, professional image.
Police Minister Annette King has come under fire over problems with the vests.
National's police spokesman Chester Borrows said this month in Parliament the project had been a "disaster from beginning to end".
The 35,000 new "breathable" shirts, worth a couple of million dollars, would not be available until March, Mr Borrows said.
Some staff had also had difficulty fitting their duty jackets over their vests.
But Ms King said there had not been any extra demand for replacement duty jackets.
- NZPA
