Mō te tūranga
About the role
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Specialisations
Safety Management & Emergency Response
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Entry type
General entry
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Under training
$68,103
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Location
Varied
As Naval Police (NP), your job is to protect the Defence Force’s people and resources from crime and keep them safe in New Zealand and overseas. You will work alongside colleagues in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Police and New Zealand Army’s Military Police as a highly trained specialist, providing police expertise to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and Defence Force community, in a variety of deployed environments.
You will need to be highly motivated and trustworthy, as you will often be the one in control at incidents. Your attention to detail and ability to adapt under pressure will be required whether you’re investigating crimes or providing close protection in high-risk situations. High standards of behaviour are expected of an NP at all times.
Requirements
Basics
- Be a minimum of 18 years of age upon entry.
- Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.
- Full Class 1 NZ Driver Licence.
Education
3 years secondary school. Note, qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.
Fitness & Medical
- You must be medically fit for service.
- You must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.
Citizenship
There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required SV security clearance for this trade.
We offer guidance on entry requirements in our eligibility section. Apply if you're uncertain, as we’ll work through the criteria with you to determine if you can proceed.
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Job on base
You will spend your days policing the defence community. This could see you preventing crime, responding to incidents, or conducting investigations. As an NP, you are a sailor and military police, so you will receive ongoing training in weapons, medical, and other combat skills to keep you ready for deployments. You may also work closely with New Zealand Police in a variety of locations throughout Aotearoa.
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Job on deployment
NP sailors deploy overseas as required. You will put your military policing skills to use investigating criminal and service-related crime, providing training to local policing or security agencies, or protecting senior military officers. You could also be policing coalition forces on multi-national bases, or deploying at short notice to conduct investigations.
Career progression and training
01Basic training
Basic training
Upon successful enlistment into the Navy you will be posted to Devonport, Auckland. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the Navy, and learn various subjects including:
- Teamwork and support
- Naval history and customs
- Drill and parades
- Core mariner skills and weapons training
- First aid and firefighting
- Physical fitness
- Self-discipline
02Job training
Job training
NZDF Military Police Basic Course
For 14 weeks at the Military Police Training Centre in Trentham, you will learn about the laws and regulations that you’ll enforce, how to respond to and control incidents, and how to deal with basic criminal offences. This course covers when and how to use force (unarmed, batons, OC spray, firearms), advanced driving techniques, the conduct of police patrols, how to interview people, and first aid skills.
Then you’ll be posted to an NP unit to put those new skills straight to use on the job. An extensive coaching and mentoring program will see you get off on the right foot, and support you through a probationary period to ensure that the NP role is the right one for you
03Ongoing training
Ongoing training
Your next courses will teach you investigative skills like how to examine a crime scene and collect evidence, how to interview people to get valuable information from them, and how to analyse law and regulations. You’ll leave capable of conducting investigations into military and civilian offences including traffic accidents, assaults, or drug offences.
You will also develop your military skills, like how to operate within an MP Team, including unarmed control and restraint, use of various weapons and equipment, advanced driving, and how to provide military-level security to people and places.
Later courses will teach you how to plan and lead a security task; how to investigate serious criminal offences and war crimes; and how to plan police operations like raids or law enforcement patrolling. If you specialise in investigations or close protection, you will receive intensive training in those areas.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a variety of courses with NZ Police and other law enforcement agencies in Aotearoa, as well as undertake various courses, training and exchanges with foreign country Military Police.
04Career Progression
Career Progression
As your career develops, you will develop your investigation, policing, and security skills and take up leadership roles in Military Police Stations throughout New Zealand or onboard Ships. You will work closely with, and may undertake secondments to, NZ Police to enhance your investigative knowledge and skill set. You may also specialise in Investigations, where you'll be responsible for investigating the most serious incidents NP deal with; or in Close Protection, acting as a bodyguard or part of a security team for senior military and government personnel.
Benefits & allowances
Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.
In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:
- Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
- Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
- Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
- Opportunities to travel
- Free and subsidised medical and dental care
- Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
- Free and subsidised insurance cover
- Help to buy a home and save for retirement
Salary & benefits
Careers in the Navy are well-rewarded, diverse and exciting. As you become more experienced and move up through the ranks, gaining additional skills and qualifications, your salary will rise accordingly.
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Under training
$68,103
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Future potential earnings
$98,000
Be Prepared
Am I fit enough?
If you want to be part of the NZ Defence Force you need to be medically and physically fit for military duties worldwide.
Medical & Fitness
The application process
Your step-by-step guide on what to expect at various stages of the application process, specifically for military roles.
Application process
Ready to start your Navy career?
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