Senior Policy Advisor

New Zealand Police is working with the community to make New Zealanders be safe and feel safe.

With over 13,000 staff, we provide policing services 24 hours a day, every day.

We operate by land, sea and air, manage over 860,000 emergency calls a year and are always actively preventing crime and crashes.

We're working towards specific goals and targets that highlight our intent to work collaboratively with iwi and communities, other government sectors and business partners to deliver 'Our Business' and achieve long-term change.

Senior Policy Advisor

• Based at Police National Headquarters, Wellington
• Police Employee
• Permanent
• JR 5023729

E t? ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e nga ngaru o te wa.

Stand at the stern of the canoe and feel the spray of the future biting at your face

Mo te tunga | About the role

We are recruiting for roles across our teams to deliver on a diverse and important work programme.

We're looking for energetic and capable policy professionals who are looking to advance their career by tackling some of New Zealand's most pressing challenges.

Join us and make a real difference for the future of our communities.

The New Zealand Police Policy Group provides advice on a remarkable and fascinating range of policy issues from vulnerable children, family harm, and health, through to firearms, transport, national security, emergency management, criminal justice reform, as well as administration of Police-led legislation.

The diversity of our business makes for interesting and challenging policy opportunities across the wide variety of sectors we work with.

We are looking for senior policy advisors who have a genuine passion to improve the lives of New Zealanders, a positive can-do mindset, are intellectually curious, and who can :

He aha taau e kawe mai | What you'll bring

Whilst we are looking for skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role, we also place high importance on your state of mind, the alignment of your values with ours, your ability to contribute to and help build high performing teams, and the way that you lead yourself and others.

With the support of senior staff and your manager, you will gain the experience to further develop your policy and project management skills to take your career to the next level.

Mo te tima – About our teams

Policing Legislative Reform Policy

The Policing Legislative Reform Policy Team administers Police-led legislation and manages Police's legislative stewardship function.

People and Communities Policy

The People and Communities Policy Team works with Police groups and other agencies across the youth justice, social and transport sectors, to support legislative changes and policy relating to youth and child offending, mental health, sexual violence, family harm, victims and road safety.

National Security, Cyber and Criminal Justice Policy (NSCCJ)

The NSCCJ Policy Team works with Police groups and other agencies across the national and international security sector and the criminal justice sector, to provide advice and support policy and legislative changes relating to : national security (such as counter terrorism, foreign interference), cyber, the administration of justice, the management of offenders, and improvements to the criminal justice system.

Core Policing Policy

The Core Policing Policy Team works with Police groups and other agencies across the justice and national security sectors, to support legislative changes and policy relating to organised crime, financial crime, and firearms.

Existing vacancies

While we appoint to the Group, with provision for staff rotation, we currently have Senior Policy Advisor places available in the following teams :

Please feel free to express any preferences for placement in your covering letter.

Whakaritenga motuhake | Special requirements

Must hold a New Zealand or Australian Citizenship or be a New Zealand Resident.

A national security clearance, or the ability to obtain one would be helpful.

This role is Individual Contributor / Emerging Leader level.

You can refer to Indicators for Success for further information on the requirements

To view the position description for this role please copy and paste this link into a new browser :

Mo tatou | About us

New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for preventing crime and enhancing community safety.

It works in partnership with individuals, communities, businesses, and other public sector agencies towards the vision of making New Zealand the safest country.

Police is the government's largest front-line response agency with around 15,000 staff in large and small communities all over New Zealand and in liaison and policing development roles overseas.

Your development is highly valued at NZ Police.

Our employees enjoy significant investment in their development not only at an individual level, but also at the team and community practice level.

We work hard to match you with work that will both play to your strengths and challenge you in new ways.

The work you'll be engaged in is real, tangible work that directly benefits our frontline and communities.

Taken all together, this means we can offer you career path opportunities to progress in your chosen profession and become a more well-rounded, experienced leader, with opportunities across the range of work we support.

To view more detailed information about our recruitment process along with further details about requirements please click below link :

Applicant Information Pack (External)

Tono inaianei | Apply no

If this position sounds like you, click apply now and submit a tailored CV.

You will be required to submit an application form.

Before confirmation of hire, pre-employment checks will be undertaken which include reference, drug and alcohol testing and police vetting prior to any written offer being made.

For further information on the application process, please copy and paste this URL :

All applications must be submitted online and will not be accepted directly via email.

All applicants must have the right to work in New Zealand.

Utu a-tau | Salary

This position is covered by a collective agreement and salary will commence between $110,425 and $181,604 dependent on skills and experience relevant to the role.

If you are an internal applicant, you must apply internally through the police system.

You must provide an alternative contact email address and state your future commitments should you be successful in the next stage of the recruitment process.

Please note : Deadline for applications is 5 : 00 pm on Monday 29th September 2025.

Applications may be reviewed prior to the close date as well as contact made with candidates.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact