The New Zealand Police is perceived to have a minimal level of institutional corruption, though it has been involved in a variety of controversies over it's long history.

[16] The armed constabulary took part in military actions against Māori opponents Riwha Tītokowaru in Taranaki and Te Kooti in the central North Island in the final stages of the New Zealand Wars.

The last significant operation of the Field Force was the crushing of Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi’s passive resistance movement at Parihaka in 1881.

[25] The appointment of a caretaker civilian leader of police, especially titled "controller general" to recognise his non-operational background, opened the windows on the organisation and allowed a period of positive and constructive development to take place.

Other overseas deployments for regional assistance and relief have been to Afghanistan as part of the reconstruction effort, the Kingdom of Tonga, Thailand for the tsunami disaster and Indonesia after terrorist bombings.

[36] Cocks was the first of two female officers in December 1915 with the SA Police, until her retirement in 1935, with the largest women's section of all Australian state law enforcement agencies.

It is acknowledged, by both police and legislation, that important and valuable roles in the performance of the functions of the police are played by: public agencies or bodies (for example, local authorities and state sectors), persons who hold certain statutory offices (for example, Maori Wardens), and parts of the private sector, especially the private security industry.

Nevertheless, a police officer with a detective designation will generally assume control of a serious crime scene rather than a uniform staff member regardless of rank.

In 2008, a survey found strong staff support for the re-introduction of the white custodian helmets worn until 1995, to reinforce the police's professional image.

This change came after the 1986 tragedy of the Lady Elizabeth II which after 13 years of operation capsized killing two police officers, Constable Glenn Hughes and Senior Sergeant Phil Ward.

[81] The Skoda Superb Station Wagon is the current generic frontline road vehicle of choice for the New Zealand Police slowly replacing the Holden Commodore.

[86][87] The Armed Offenders Squad has its own fleet of, unmarked Toyota Land Cruisers and prior to that Nissan Patrols equipped with bull bars and some with ballistic protection.

[89] In 2021 the New Zealand Police removed the iconic "Safer Communities Together" slogan from the side of their new vehicles instead using that area to promote the use of the 111 emergency and 105 non-emergency telephone numbers.

[99] During outfitting police vehicles are given a livery, emergency lights and sirens, radio communication, gun safes and speed detection equipment.

[103][104] In March 2022 a road trial for PHEVs was launched, Fleet Service Group Manager Brian Yanko says, “It’s expected that the Škoda PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) will be suited to frontline duties in an environment allowing for downtime where it can recharge, a process which takes around seven-hours from a standard 240-volt wall outlet”.

[132][133][134] Then Commissioner of police Mike Bush cited the 2019 Christchurch Mosque Attack and a rise in organised crime as reasons for the trial.

[135] The ART vehicles were often crewed by four Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) officers who delt with high risk situations.

[139][140] Public discussion around the armed response teams was influenced by concerns about police-community relations in light of the murder of George Floyd, which sparked protests around the world including New Zealand.

The BAS looks similar to the SRBA with only subtle differences including the removal of the two pouches over the stomach being replaced with small straps that allow for any tactical equipment wanted to be stored on the vest instead of a duty belt and a new font for the police markings.

[146][145] On 8 October 1941, four police officers were killed by South Island farmer Stanley Graham, 40, who fired at them as they attempted to seize arms from his West Coast home at Kowhitirangi.

[151] In July 1985, the New Zealand Police arrested two French Action Service operatives after the Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland harbour.

Assets worth $17 million were seized including eighteen luxury cars, giant screen TVs and works of art.

[157] The incident became controversial when a district court judge ruled that the warrants issued for the property seizures were invalid and it turned out the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) had broken the law when asked by police to spy on Dotcom.

[159][160][161] The most recent police officer to be killed in the line of duty was Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming, who was struck by a vehicle in "an unprovoked and senseless act" early New Years Day.

[166] Over this period, the IPCA made numerous recommendations to change police protocols, but the death rate continued to climb.

[172] The NSIT is composed of four teams in regional centres, with a remit that covers early intervention in cases of extremism, soliciting informants, and building relationships with communities.

If an incident escalates to a level where their internal resources are unable to adequately deal with the issue (for example, a major arms encounter or a significant terrorist threat), the Police Incident Controller may call on extra assistance from the New Zealand Defence Force and in particular NZ's Special Forces, the military focused New Zealand Special Air Service and terrorism focused Commando Squadron (D Squadron).

Military resources such as Light Armoured Vehicles have been used and requested before, such as during the Napier shootings, and Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopters from No.

Similar to the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, the STG train in dynamic entry and other tactics vital in high-risk situations.

The STG train with the SAS and are the last line of law enforcement response available before a police Incident Controller calls in support from the Defence Force.