New Zealand Police To Implement Mandatory Vaccination Policy

New Zealand Police will be implementing a mandatory vaccination policy for 
all employees, contractors, volunteers, suppliers, new employees and visitors 
who work or enter Police sites.

Vaccination rates across New Zealand Police are already high with 96% of all 
staff having received at least one dose and 94% having had two doses.

Everyone covered by the new policy will be required to have had their first 
COVID-19 vaccination by 11 February and to have had their second by 11 March.

Anyone visiting a police station or police site to access essential police 
services (e.g. front-counter services) and people brought to a station for 
services in relation to enforcement and operational activities (e.g. victims 
and witnesses) are exempt from the policy. People held in Police custody 
suites are also not required to be vaccinated.

The majority of Police staff are already covered by the Police Vaccination 
Order which came into effect on 17 January and applies to constabulary staff, 
authorised officers and recruits.

“Police is committed to ensuring that our staff and the people we engage 
with are safe and vaccination is the best defence against COVID-19 and its 
variations,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Leadership and Capability 
Tania Kura.

“Our frontline staff work in close proximity with Police employees and this 
policy will provide safety for our employees while reinforcing the safety of 
our frontline staff and of our communities.”

The new policy was approved by the Police Executive Leadership Team yesterday 
and follows a consultation period with staff in December and after feedback 
from the Police Association and the Police Managers’ Guild.

“We are committed to delivering the policing service that New Zealanders 
expect and deserve and to achieve this we need our staff to be vaccinated and 
protected against COVID-19,” said Deputy Commissioner Kura.

Ahead of the 11 February deadline, we will be communicating with staff 
affected and encouraging those who are yet to be vaccinated to get their 
first dose.

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