New Zealand Police is pleased to see levels of trust and confidence remain stable at 69% after a significant increase in 2024. Improvements in several indicators show that New Zealanders have high confidence in effectiveness of Police in the latest component of the annual Ministry of Justice New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS).
The Police Module, which measures the public's perceptions, experiences, and views about New Zealand Police, saw public trust and confidence in Police remain at 69% between October 2024 and October 2025.
Assistant Commissioner Jeanette Park says maintaining trust and confidence within our communities is a constant priority for New Zealand Police, and whilst it is encouraging to see several improvements, there is always more work to be done.
Key findings from the Police Module saw:
- Almost three quarters (74%) of New Zealanders agree that Police deal effectively with serious crime. This was a significant increase from 70% in 2024. The proportion of those who disagreed also decreased from 11% to 9%.
- The proportion of New Zealanders who agree that Police concentrate efforts to deal with harmful crimes significantly increased from 70% in 2024 to 73% in 2025.
- The proportion of New Zealanders who agree that Police provide effective support for emergency management significantly increased from 77% to 81% and the proportion of those who disagreed decreased from 7% to 4%.
- Three quarters (75%) of New Zealanders agreed that Police deal effectively with road safety. This was a significant increase from 72% in 2024.
- Disagreement that Police have a suitable presence in the community significantly decrease from 23% of New Zealanders in 2024 to 20% in 2025.
- Disagreement that Police staff reflect the diversity of all people in New Zealand significantly decrease from 9% of New Zealanders in 2024 to 7% in 2025.
- Disagreement that the work Police do with schools, business, families and communities prevents more crime significantly decrease from 16% of New Zealanders in 2024 to 13% in 2025.
"These numbers are the direct result of the hard work our staff put in everyday when dealing with victims of crime," Assistant Commissioner Park says.
"They are dedicated in serving our communities through timely and responsive policing, improving public safety by being visible and accessible and committed to strengthening trust and confidence through connection with communities.
"While these results are encouraging, there is always more work to do. We would like to see these numbers increase as we want to have the trust and confidence of all New Zealanders.
"This survey has also given us sufficient data to assess areas where we need to continue to improve.
"Our responsiveness to community needs is one area for consideration. This measure has remained static since the introduction of the Police Module, and it is something we would want to see improving over time.
"Police continue to work hard in the areas that ensure safety and responsiveness and with the highest number of FTE constables in history at 10,497 we aim to make a difference in deterring crime, enforcing the law and increasing feelings of public safety."
About the NZCVS
The NZCVS was introduced in 2018 and aims to survey around 8000 New Zealanders. The total number of responses for this round was 8008.
The report is based on data collected between October 2024 and October 2025. The Police Module was introduced in 2021 and provides a credible source of information that can shape and direct future decisions within New Zealand Police, with the intention of building greater trust and confidence in Police by communities.
