Police set to recruit cops from Singapore
5:00AM Thursday April 10, 2008
By Lincoln Tan
New Zealand police plan to recruit staff from Singapore to overcome a shortage in the force and help Labour to fulfil its election deal with NZ First to appoint 1000 new officers.
An agreement has been reached in principle between the police commissioners of the two countries for New Zealand to recruit officers from the island nation.
The police development manager for Auckland, Inspector John Mitchell, said the force had looked at Asian countries with a shared colonial heritage, including Hong Kong and Malaysia, to meet the need for more Asian officers.
"Singapore has a similar-size force serving the same population, and also their policing ethos is remarkably similar to ours," he said.
"Being from a multicultural city, Singaporean police officers will also have the language and cultural understanding capabilities to help improve our Asian responsiveness."
The Herald understands processes are in place for a recruitment drive at a later date. Police have been recruiting from Britain since 2003.
Mr Mitchell said officers from Singapore would be recruited in groups of 20 and would probably go through a 10-week conversion programme similar to the one for British recruits.
Labour committed to recruiting 1000 more police officers as part of its confidence and supply agreement with NZ First after the last election.
But NZ First has also suggested limiting Asian immigration.
The party's law and order spokesman, Ron Mark, said "the news sits well with New Zealand First".
Bringing in officers from Singapore was different, because they would be "quality Asian immigrants".
"We would be concerned if recruiting was done in countries which are low on the corruption index."
A spokesman for Police Minister Annette King said: "We have had discussions about the possibility because we want to get more Asian police to speak Chinese, so that's one of the arms of our recruitment. But although there has been discussions there is no active recruiting at the moment."
If it was to happen, however, the minister would support the move.
"If that happened we'd be recruiting very experienced police who could speak Chinese."
THE FIGURES
* The Asian population is expected to grow faster than any other. It will increase by 3.4 per cent annually and reach 790,000 by 2026, says Statistics New Zealand.
* Last year's police annual report says only 1.6 per cent of police staff are of Asian descent and the force is struggling to recruit from ethnic communities
Policing in NZ is pretty good job. lol
I am trying to imagine how many singaporean cops is required to bring down one Maori. :D
nt the chance for us, it is the chance for singapore cops.
hahaha.
Originally posted by TCH05:I am trying to imagine how many singaporean cops is required to bring down one Maori. :D
lol. misconception.
most are standing around 1.7m tall. if u see those in the Rugby like All Blacks, then they are the exception.
im bigger and taller than most of the maoris and aussies here. when i did the 180kg deadlift for reps in the commercial gym, the trainers were gobsmacked and ask me questions.
only 1 maori i saw in the gym bench 160kg for reps... the rest are just normal joes..
Originally posted by fishbuff:lol. misconception. im much bigger and taller than most of the maoris here.
You are not big, you are HUGE.
I'm really not so sure if it's a good idea to import our donut munchers ....... what if they start strong-arming the assorted protesters common to new zealand ? ... the greenies, the opposition, the assorted groupies ? .....
and they want to import malaysian donut munchers too ? .....
maybe next time traffic summon in new zealand will be an "on the spot" fine of NZ$50 ? .... ![]()
Originally posted by holygoh:Wow, this is a chance of a lifetime! Go there be citizen then come back and get PR! Damn, why am I not a policeman…
NZ is not exactly the safest place on earth, I think the reason why they need imported policeman is because nobody want to take up the job.
Bringing in officers from Singapore was different, because they would be "quality Asian immigrants".
![]()
Originally posted by fishbuff:lol. misconception.
most are standing around 1.7m tall. if u see those in the Rugby like All Blacks, then they are the exception.
im bigger and taller than most of the maoris and aussies here. when i did the 180kg deadlift for reps in the commercial gym, the trainers were gobsmacked and ask me questions.
only 1 maori i saw in the gym bench 160kg for reps... the rest are just normal joes..
i hv a fren, 1.7m too, 72kg, deadlifting 170kg for a few reps too.
Point: Whether you have the ability to apprehend someone is just how much you have prepared yourself for it. This is not something that is totally impossible; it has been achieved by many. Only the lazy will think of "I cannot do it". The non-lazy will think of "how I can do it".
I don't think I will ever migrate to NZ. There is strong racial discrimination against Chinese there. Employment opportunities for asian are not bright.
Originally posted by qlqq9:I don't think I will ever migrate to NZ. There is strong racial discrimination against Chinese there. Employment opportunities for asian are not bright.
Its not as bad as u think. =P
Originally posted by qlqq9:I don't think I will ever migrate to NZ. There is strong racial discrimination against Chinese there. Employment opportunities for asian are not bright.
I think the racial discrimination is pretty similar to say Australia
And then there is always a lot of hate towards Chinese because of the PRC :P
Originally posted by eagle:i hv a fren, 1.7m too, 72kg, deadlifting 170kg for a few reps too.
Point: Whether you have the ability to apprehend someone is just how much you have prepared yourself for it. This is not something that is totally impossible; it has been achieved by many. Only the lazy will think of "I cannot do it". The non-lazy will think of "how I can do it".
very solid, 1,.7m and can deadlift 170kg, that is olympic calibre. i weighs 120kg+ and the best i did was 220kg+ deadlift.
i have no idea how to apprehend anyone.. just oracle database admin and plsql programming.. plus weightlifting and gardening of course.
Originally posted by elindra:
I think the racial discrimination is pretty similar to say AustraliaAnd then there is always a lot of hate towards Chinese because of the PRC :P
before i come to australia, i had such apprehension too.
now after staying here for 1+ years, it isnt as what i had anticipated. generally people are friendly, usually people will give u the benefits of doubts until u can prove yourself.
i cant commend about NZ as i have not live there before.
so is it ok that we discriminate against our malays, indians and other nationalities, and when it comes to our turn in our countries, we cry foul as well? i have learnt alot thru this emigration process.
Interesting to note that New Zealand has a lower prison population in percentage terms and in nominal terms.
Also New Zealand has abolished death penalty in 1989, which means more chances for repeat offenders ending up in prison again.
Singapore is a country with one of the highest prison population in the world. ![]()
Makes you wonder what they mean by low crime rate and how they achieve it.

Originally posted by BadzMaro:Its not as bad as u think. =P
My friend migrated there and from what I know she is trying very hard to make ends meet. She was encouraging me to go but I don't think I will ever go.
Originally posted by elindra:
I think the racial discrimination is pretty similar to say AustraliaAnd then there is always a lot of hate towards Chinese because of the PRC :P
perhaps, you are right about the racial discrimination.
Originally posted by qlqq9:
My friend migrated there and from what I know she is trying very hard to make ends meet. She was encouraging me to go but I don't think I will ever go.
why would someone that is trying very hard to make ends meet.. encourage u to go over.
lol.. anyways , u wont die or starve to death for sure. As a welfare state , they are not going to let that happen to u. Rising costs , they up the minimum wage to 12 an hour now. Anyways everywhere also same, its how u make use of the given situation.
Originally posted by fishbuff:very solid, 1,.7m and can deadlift 170kg, that is olympic calibre. i weighs 120kg+ and the best i did was 220kg+ deadlift.
i have no idea how to apprehend anyone.. just oracle database admin and plsql programming.. plus weightlifting and gardening of course.
each occupation has their own specialities mah ![]()
Originally posted by maurizio13:Interesting to note that New Zealand has a lower prison population in percentage terms and in nominal terms.
Also New Zealand has abolished death penalty in 1989, which means more chances for repeat offenders ending up in prison again.
Singapore is a country with one of the highest prison population in the world.
Makes you wonder what they mean by low crime rate and how they achieve it.
Maurizio, please shut the fcuk up.
Originally posted by Mauriziosuckdick:
Maurizio, please shut the fcuk up.
Hahaha....
Gazelle Gazelle........
Hehehe....
you like the UN data?
huh, gazelle is back?
nzers have great sense of humor but are righteous. they are not racist. if you behave like a a-hole, you will be told off regardless of skin color.
the reason why nzers are perceived racists is that in major cities like auckland are inundated with overseas chinese students. you walk along queen street and these students are everywhere. some of their behaviour is clearly asking to be `whacked'.