Membership
What happens to my membership when I leave Police?
Your Police Association and Police Welfare Fund memberships are separate, and leaving Police affects each differently.
- Your Police Association membership ends when you leave New Zealand Police. Once you leave, you no longer require ongoing representation relating to your employment with Police. However, if a historical matter relating to your previous Police employment arises after you leave, you may still be eligible for representation under the Association’s Constitution.
- Your Police Welfare Fund membership can continue. After leaving Police, you can remain a Welfare Fund member and continue accessing available products and services. If you cancel, your Welfare Fund benefits and services will end, along with your remaining connection to the NZPA.
Continuing your Welfare Fund membership
If you have been a Welfare Fund member for at least 12 months, you are eligible to continue your membership after leaving Police.
There are three membership types: Full, Retired and Associate. Your eligibility depends on whether you are moving into other paid employment or retiring from all paid employment and receiving NZ Superannuation.
Leaving Police for other employment
If you move into other paid employment, you are not considered retired for Welfare Fund membership purposes. You can remain a Full Welfare Fund member but will not qualify for Retired or Associate membership until you have retired from all paid employment and are receiving NZ Superannuation.
Full Welfare Fund membership
After leaving Police, the compulsory components of Full membership are:
- Welfare Fund membership
- Police Health Plan
Group Life Insurance is no longer compulsory. You may convert it to Police Life Insurance Extra without medical underwriting if you apply within 60 days of leaving Police. Premiums and cover will change, so refer to the Life Insurance Calculator and seek financial advice if required.
If you wish to cancel your Police Health Plan while retaining Welfare Fund membership, you must meet the eligibility requirements for either Retired or Associate membership.
Retired Welfare Fund membership
To qualify, you must:
- Be retired from all employment and receiving New Zealand Superannuation or an equivalent pension.
- Have been a Welfare Fund member for 14 years or more.
- Provide a Certificate of Service or proof of receiving a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Retired membership entitlements differ from Full Welfare Fund membership:
- Holiday homes may be booked up to six months in advance, compared with 12 months for Full members.
- Welfare Fund benefits and grants are not available to Retired members.
- Access to insurance products, member discounts and other applicable services continue.
Associate Welfare Fund membership
This category is for members who do not meet the 14-year service requirement for Retired membership.
To qualify, you must:
- Be retired from all employment and receiving New Zealand Superannuation or an equivalent pension.
- Have been a Welfare Fund member for at least 12 months.
Associate membership entitlements differ from Full Welfare Fund membership:
- Holiday homes may be booked up to three months in advance, compared with 12 months for Full members.
- Welfare Fund benefits and grants are not available to Associate members.
- Access to insurance products, member discounts and other applicable services continue
Police Welfare Fund - Private Property Insurance
If you hold Police Association home, contents or vehicle insurance, you must maintain Full, Retired or Associate Welfare Fund membership to keep your insurance cover.
Please refer to the full welfare entitlements and details through this link.
What you need to do
Contact the Membership Team at least one month before leaving Police, or no later than two weeks beforehand. The earlier you let us know, the easier it will be to arrange a smooth transition.
The team will help you set up a direct debit and ensure there are no missed payments or interruptions to your membership or cover.