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New Zealand Police Vehicles
Photo: Fiona Foxall
Animation: Roly Hermans |
Many people are fascinated by police cars. Collecting photographs
of police vehicles from all over the world is a popular hobby, and
not only in police circles.
Here is a selection of photographs of vehicles used by the New
Zealand Police through the years.
This Holden Commodore sports the 2001 colour-scheme for general
duties police cars. The livery is almost identical to that of the
traffic vehicles, but uses orange and blue chequers. Initially all
New Zealand police vehicles were going to be in the traditional
"battenberg" blue and yellow colours, but in a somewhat
controversial last-minute change, it was decided that general duties
cars should be visibly different from traffic cars.
This is the latest New Zealand colour scheme, introduced in December
2000. The bright blue and yellow colours are very similar to those
of the British motorway police livery (often called the 'battenberg'
livery, after a multi-coloured sponge cake!). Yellow is scientifically
proven to be most visible during the day, while reflective blue
is best at night. Solid blocks of colour, rather than stripes or
chevrons, are more visible. Initially these new colours will be
seen only on the cars of the newly formed Highway Patrol. But over
time, as patrol cars are replaced, all police cars will look like
this.
A very smart looking Ford Futura.
Photo: Bruce Hutton
The Royal New Zealand Police College were equipped with these Nissan
Maximas for use as driver training cars.
In 1996 the New Zealand Police changed the police car livery, adding
orange striping to make them more conspicuous.
A sight to put fear in the heart of the drinking driver - the "booze
bus". This specially adapted vehicle is set-up with all the necessary
equipment for apprehending drivers who drink and drive.
This Holden Commodore, in pre-1996 colours, is parked at the main
entrance to the Royal New Zealand Police College at Porirua.
The Tena Kowhiria programme is the Maori version of
D.A.R.E. This Holden Commodore has a unique Tena Kowhiria
symbol on the driver's door.
Go to more pictures of even older
New Zealand Police vehicles.
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