Awards for association members
Awards Policy and Guidelines
The policy below sets out the purpose, eligibility, nomination process and recognition arrangements for the New Zealand Police Association's five formal honours:
Life Membership | Bill Murray Award | Merit Award | Certificate of Appreciation | President's Award for Outstanding Service
Other awards
NZ Police Association, Te Aka Hāpai Bravery Award
The New Zealand Police Association, Te Aka Hāpai Bravery Award was established to honour outstanding acts of bravery of police, on or off duty. The award represents peer recognition of outstanding bravery.
The design of the award is based on the sternpost of a Maori waka, traditionally carved to provide guardianship of a journey. The cast bronze sternpost incorporates a police chevron, and represents the strength, resolve and community guardianship of police. The sternpost is topped by a flame of pounamu, representing valour and the high value in which the recipient is held.
The recipients of the awards are chosen by a panel made up of prominent people in police and public service, along with the Police Association President.
To maintain the prestige of the award, reserving it for only the bravest acts, it was envisaged that in some years no nominations would meet the threshold.
Nomination Criteria:
- A Nominee must have undertaken a specific act of extraordinary bravery in carrying out an action above and beyond the reasonable expectations of a police officer performing their duty.
- Reasonable expectations may be higher of members of specialist squads, who are trained and equipped to confront a greater level of danger.
- The act must exemplify the traditions and highest ideals of policing.
- Both constabulary and non-constabulary Police employees who are members of the Police Association may be considered for a Bravery Award.
- Nominations may be made for acts whether performed while formally on duty or off duty.
- Only acts performed within the year 1 July to 30 June of the year of nomination will normally be considered for a Bravery Award.
The President's Award for Outstanding Service
- The President’s Award for Outstanding Service will only be made to Association employees.
- To be eligible for consideration for this award the employee must have made a significant contribution to the Association over a prolonged period of not less than 10 years.
- For purposes of clarification, it is stressed this award is not a “long service” award, but a more selective honour in recognition of a tangible and lasting contribution by the employee and to the benefit of the membership.
- This award will not be limited in terms of the numbers awarded.
- A record will be kept in the Association Register of Award of who has been a recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Service.
- The recipient will receive a framed certificate.
Procedure for Nomination:
(a) Nomination will be made by the Association National Secretary
(b) The nomination will be made to the President who will enquire into the nomination and decide whether he/she is of the view the nominee is worthy of this award.
(c) Where the President supports presenting this award the nomination will be submitted to the Association Board of Directors for their consideration.
(d) The Board of Directors will enquire into the nomination and determine whether the service by the nominee is such to merit presentation of this award. Two thirds of the Directors present must give their endorsement for the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to be conferred.
(e) The recipient will receive a framed certificate, presented by the President.