Four Australian police officers have jumped ship to New Zealand, just months after the NZ Police Commissioner took aim at the Northern Territory’s “aggressive” recruiting campaign.

New Zealand Police announced on Monday that four officers – from WA, South Australia and Queensland – had begun a shortened training course at the national academy to transfer over.

In October, NZ Police Commissioner Richard Chambers complained that recruiting from Australian states and territories had “become more aggressive”, particularly a face-to-face recruitment drive from NT Police.

NZ Police revealed in the two years to October, it had received more than 670 vetting requests from Australian police forces, and 212 cops had resigned to head to Australia.

Spruiking the new batch of four recruits, NZ Police Assistant Commissioner Jeanette Park said the officers were recruited at the end of 2025 during a campaign in Australia. The recruitment drive included trying to pull Kiwi officers back onto the force.

“Since the campaign launched, we have had seven officers rejoin and almost 40 expressions of interest from Australian police officers who have never worked for New Zealand Police before,” Ms Park said.

“Many of those said that going through 20 weeks of training was a barrier to making the move.”

The NZ force has cut the international transfer training course in half, and the four new officers began the 10-week course at the Royal New Zealand Police College in the last week of May.

“By focusing on key areas, training will take 10 weeks instead of 20, so the officers will be out on the frontline making a difference in our communities sooner,” she said.

“These officers will be huge assets to New Zealand with years of experience under their belts.

“The course is offering fit-for-purpose training by recognising transferable skills and applying them to the New Zealand policing environment.”

The recruitment envoy sent to Australia came amid a public stoush between the top cops in Aotearoa and the cops in the Top End.

NT Police had boots on the ground recruiting officers at multiple centres in October, spruiking $A140,000 constable wages, plus $30,000 a year housing subsidies. The trip was at least the fourth in two years and helped attract about 55 Kiwi officers to jump ship.

“Those Australian campaigns in our country have become more aggressive,” NZ Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told 1News.

“The money that they can earn in Australia is more than here in New Zealand. I accept that. That’s often the lure for many.”

The trans-Tasman tussle also extended to the respective halls of parliament in the wake of huge changes to capital gains taxes in Australia. Following the May 12 budget, NZ Finance Minister Nicola Willis extended an invitation to Australian entrepreneurs.

“Australians looking to start or grow a business have an epic opportunity, and that opportunity is to do it in New Zealand,” she said.

“No capital gains tax, very simple tax system, broad base, low rate – we keep it simple, we allow you accelerated depreciation and deductibility on your capital investments. And you’ve got a government that is very pro-growth, anti-red tape.

“Where the bloody hell are you? Come over … This is a government that isn’t planning to raid you with more taxes.”

The two prime ministers met on Saturday for annual talks in Queensland. Anthony Albanese batted away a question about Ms Willis’ remarks.

“We have a relationship which is often a bit tongue-in-cheek … It’s a good relationship. Occasionally there’s a bit of cheekiness to the relationship – long may that continue,” he said.

Christopher Luxon was more to the point and focused on his country’s ailing economy.

“We’ve got a recovery under way and we just think a CGT being introduced to New Zealand now would be a wrecking ball for our economy,” Mr Luxon said.

“We don’t feel that’s appropriate for New Zealand, and we feel pretty strongly about it.”