Police eagle chopper temporarily deployed to Hamilton

Thursday, 18 June 2026

The whir of the police chopper may be heard around Hamilton for a few days yet, with the Eagle on a temporary Waikato deployment.

It’s like “another patrol car except it’s in the sky”, Senior Sergeant Andrew O’Reilly said.

Wednesday’s aerial activity extended into the night and prompted questions from many residents, especially those around the Chartwell and Fairfield areas.

In a statement, police said the helicopter had helped ground staff with enquiries at several Hamilton addresses linked to a stolen vehicle.

During its time in the region, the Eagle will support police operations, help prevent crime and help frontline staff “as needed on a daily basis”, police said.

Residents may hear the chopper over residential areas from time to time while it undertakes operational support. More information may be provided “if there is any operational necessity or public safety concerns”.

Senior Sergeant Andrew O’Reilly said the helicopter will be “patrolling” the region’s skies for the next four days.

“They’ve got time and hours and they need to use them.”