In 1840, with the arrival of Governor Hobson in New Zealand, Police Magistrates exercised their power to appoint selected men to act as police. Six years later, on 9 October 1846, an ordinance for the establishment and maintenance of a constabulary force was passed.
This Act described the police force as "a sufficient number of fit and able men who would serve as an 'armed force' for preserving the peace and preventing robberies and other felonies and apprehending offenders against the peace."
The gold rushes of the 1860s in Otago and Canterbury meant police often had a difficult time keeping the peace. After 1867 the Armed Constabulary was also required to fight in the land wars.
The Police Act 1886 established New Zealand's first national, civil, police force. The force was generally unarmed. Sergeant John Nash was New Zealand's first non-commissioned police officer.
In 1958 a new Police Act was passed in which the word 'force' was removed. The name now used is New Zealand Police or Police.
New Zealand's first non-commissioned police officer
Sergeant John Nash was registered as the first non-commissioned member of the newly formed New Zealand Police Force on 1 September 1886. He had the number '1' displayed prominently on his headgear.
Nash was born in Killarney, Ireland, in about 1822. He sailed for New Zealand in 1845 with the 65th Regiment of the British Army. On leaving the Army in 1857 Nash joined the Nelson Provincial Armed Constabulary as a constable. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1863.
In 1863 John Nash was stationed at Westport during the goldrush. Local businessmen regarded him as an "excellent officer" and a "very steady man", but diggers were disgusted that he actually tried to enforce 10 o'clock closing. Press comment made his rigid disciplinary approach to policing notorious.
By 1866 Sergeant Nash, back in Nelson, was third in command of the Provincial Police Force. He was awarded a gold watch for his work in the hunt for those responsible for the murders of five gold prospectors at Maungatapu.
In 1875 Nash complained of his policeman's lot to the Superintendent of Nelson, saying that his 160 pounds a year was inadequate because "At the present time I am on duty from 7PM to 7AM and in addition to this I have to Summon Jurors for Coroners Inquests, attend the same and also the Criminal sittings of the Supreme Court without any remuneration". His application was denied.
Nash was discharged on superannuation in 1887 after 30 years service, a recipient of the newly struck New Zealand Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
After leaving the police, John Nash became 'Inspector of Nuisances' for the Nelson City Council, a much sought-after position which he won against 29 other applicants. He died in 1893, survived by four children of his first wife, Sarah (nee Newport), his second wife Selina (nee Goddard) and their six children. He had named the youngest - born in the year he became 'policeman number one' - Sargeant John Nash.
Further reading about Police history
General histories
- Dunstall, Graeme (1999) A Policeman's Paradise? Policing a Stable Society, 1917-1945. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.
- Hill, Richard S (1986) Policing the Colonial Frontier: The Theory and Practice of Co-ercive Social and Racial Control in New Zealand, 1767-1867. Wellington: Government Print.
- Hill, Richard S (1989) The Colonial Frontier Tamed: New Zealand Policing in Transition, 1867-1886. Wellington: Government Print.
- Hill, Richard S (1995) The Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove, 1886-1917. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.
District histories
- Brewer, Ken (2000) The History of the Waiuku Police. Waiuku: Deed Printing.
- Brewer, Ken (2003) Badge of Honour: A History of the Otahuhu Police 1840-2000. Waiuku: Deed Printing.
- Brewer, Ken (2005) The History of the Tuakau Police. Unpublished.
- Brewer, Ken (2009) The History of the Papakura Police. Unpublished.
- Carr, Margaret (1989) Policing in the Mountain Shadow: A History of the Taranaki Police. New Plymouth: TNL Print.
- Carson, Kit and Davison, Yvonne (1990) The Longest Beat: A Social and Pictorial History of Policing on the West Coast. Greymouth: P M Deazley and New Zealand Police.
- Carter, Ray (1988) Beyond the Call of Duty: A History of the Palmerston North Police District. Palmerston North: Stylex Print.
- Cherrett, Owen J (1989) Without Fear or Favour: 150 years Policing Auckland, 1840-1990. Wellington: New Zealand Police and L Patrick Hunter.
- Hill, Murray (1986) In the Line of Duty. Auckland: Endeavour Press.
- MacDonald, C H (1986) The Story of the Napier Police District 1886-1986. Waipukurau: CHB Print.
- Neale,June E (1986) The Nelson Police: The Story of the Nelson Police District 1841-1986. Nelson: General Printing Services.
- O'Hara, Charles (1986) Northland Made to Order. Whangarei: Northland Publications.
- Poole, Michele (2002) The Southern Beat. Invercargill: Southland Police Trust.
- Robinson, John (1995) Policing the Tairawhiti. Gisborne: Gisborne Herald.
- Rorke, Jinty (1993) Policing Two Peoples: A History of Police in the Bay of Plenty 1867-1992. Wellington: Tauranga Police.
- Singe, Miles and Thomson, David A (1992) Authority to Protect: A Story of Policing in Otago. Dunedin: P G Wiersma and the authors.
- Spicer, Charles E (1988) Policing the River District: The First 100 Years of the Wanganui Police 1886 to 1986. Wanganui: New Zealand Police.
- Thomson, Barry and Neilson, Robert (1989) Sharing the Challenge: A Social and Pictorial History of the Christchurch Police District. Christchurch: J C Rowe and Christchurch Police History Book Committee.
- Thomson, David A and Kagei, Hendrik (1987) A Century of Service: A History of South Canterbury and North Otago Police. Timaru: David A Thomson and New Zealand Police.
- Young, Sherwood (ed) (1994) With Confidence and Pride: Policing the Wellington Region 1840-1992. Wellington: Wellington Police Trust.
- Walters, Brian (1986) A History of the Waikato Police 1886-1986. Hamilton: Times Commercial Printers.
Specialist histories
- van Beynen, Ray (1998) Zero-Alpha: The NZ Police Armed Offenders Squad. Auckland: Howling at the Moon Productions.
- Wills, J D (1990) The New Zealand Police Medal. Auckland: J D Wills and New Zealand Police.
- Wills, J D (1995) To Guard My People: Police Honours and Awards. Auckland: J D Wills and New Zealand Police.
- Woolston, Alan (1996) Equal to the Task: The City of Auckland Traffic Department 1894-1994. Auckland: New Zealand Police.