The president of the New Zealand Police Association is calling for change amid the rise of Kiwi officers heading to Australia for work.
NSW is the latest Australian state to launch a campaign aimed at attracting New Zealand police officers, allowing them to transfer and keep their current rank.
During a time when there is a bigger demand for police presence in Aotearoa, these campaigns are a "concern", association president Chris Cahill said.
"We know we've got over 250 vacancies in the New Zealand Police at the moment," he told AM.
"Just last week, we had 20 officers resign. We've spoken to a number of them and many were going to Australian jurisdictions."
He said this couldn't come at a worse time.
The Government, in the Coalition agreement between National and NZ First, has promised to deliver 500 additional officers in the first two years of its term.
"Well, it's going to get very hard," Cahill said of that target.
"Just to maintain now the current number of police, you need about 500 a year - we've already got 250 vacancies so that brings [it] up to 750 in the first year...it's going to be a very hard ask."
The Government has admitted it can't match Australia's pay to keep officers in New Zealand.
"It's up to each individual police officer to make their decision but I'd just say to you we are wanting to build a country where police officers choose to stay here," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said in January the Coalition parties hadn't been fully aware of the issues with police recruitment when they came into Government at the end of last year.
Mitchell said he knew about Australian recruitment campaigns, but added there were other issues including the age of the force.
That was news to him when he received his briefing for incoming ministers, Mitchell added.
Nonetheless, the two-year promise remained, he said.
