Three new constables to boost Katikati police staffing

Katikati is set to welcome three additional constables to its local policing team, with the new staff expected to begin duties in February 2026. The announcement was made by Sergeant Steve Hindmarsh, who noted that the growth in population and increasing workload across the district had driven the decision by New Zealand Police to expand the team.

The new appointments will bring the number of constables on each section from two to three, giving the district greater flexibility and responsiveness. Hindmarsh highlighted that the current two-person sections often struggle to maintain two-person patrols when staff are on leave, attending training, in court, or on sick days — a situation that can compromise officer safety. "One-person patrols can be unsafe at the best of times," he said.

Hindmarsh said he would formally introduce the new constables to the community through the newsletter once they had commenced duties. He expressed confidence the expanded team would better meet the ambition of always having a two-person unit on duty.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).