50th Police Dog Section Anniversary

The New Zealand Police Dog Section will complete its 50th Anniversary celebrations with a Ministerial Parade on Saturday 7 October at the Dog Training Centre.

Operational and retired dog handlers and their dogs, foreign dignitaries and police staff will attend the event.

Dogs were first introduced into the New Zealand Police in 1956, when Constable Frank Riley was seconded from Surrey County Police to develop police dog training in New Zealand.
He brought with him four German Shepherd Dogs and 12 pups, which became the very first wing of police dog recruits.

Over the years, police dog training has expanded to include a wide range of specialist disciplines.
(read about their history)