Police officers fire back at Government’s pay rise offer, minister Mark Mitchell responds

By RNZ

The Minister of Police has responded to criticisms lobbed at the Government’s pay offer to officers.

Police officers called the offer “insulting”, “disgusting” and “demoralising” amid a cost-of -living crisis and demanding conditions.

After rejecting the Government’s offer initially in September 2023, police were presented with the same offer on Friday.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the Government was facing tough economic conditions.

“We 100 per cent support and want to recognise all our police officers, they do an outstanding job for us. But as an incoming Government, we’re in a tough financial situation. We want to start improving our economic outlook as a country,” he said.

“We are on their [police officers’] side. We back them 100 per cent. We are doing the best we can.”

The Government has insisted it would not break its promise to recruit more police.

The New Zealand Police Association Te Aka Hāpai said its members unequivocally rejected the Government’s pay offer, which was finally tabled last week after months of waiting and eight months after their collective agreement expired.

Association president Chris Cahill said officers had lambasted the offer as “a kick in the guts”, “insulting”, “demoralising”, “farcical”, “disrespectful” and “an absolute joke”.

What’s in the offer?

What does the association say is wrong with it?

The association said many members were facing extreme financial pressures, resulting in an inability to pay rent or mortgages, and many were feeling the lure of Australia.

Nearly 800 emails had been received from members this past weekend, and a consistent theme was the need to take industrial action.

The Government’s stance of being “tough on crime” meant more demanding work for officers, Cahill said.

“Yet they insult these very officers by intentionally failing to backdate the pay offer that has been delayed by politics and government processes, not officers.

“A nurse or social worker after six years earns $22,000 more than a six-year police constable.

“No one thinks nurses are overpaid so why are our police constables underpaid? By the time constables reach the top of their pay band, they will have earned $240,000 less than a nurse.”

Cahill said for the Government to have any chance of meeting its promise of recruiting another 500 officers in two years, it needed to ensure officers were not leaving for better pay and conditions.

“Aussie recruitment lines will have been red hot since our members heard of this offer last Friday,” he said.

Impact on the police force

The association has received numerous emails.

“I personally know of two officers who have had to ask for food parcels, in the last few months, just so they can feed their families,” one said.

“How can the Government pride themselves on law and order, introduce ‘tough’ new legislation against gangs, and then insult us with a pittance of a wage rise?” another said.

Further comments were: “As I attend the sudden death of a 12-year-old girl and help a grieving family, then go to a gruesome violent stabbing that will stay with me forever, I will remember that I am valued by this disgusting offer.”

“Teachers, nurses, fire all had massive presence in the media, where’s ours?”

“My feedback is not printable.”