Are the days of the ‘country cop’ over?

A proposal to close or downsize rural police stations across Canterbury has drawn strong criticism from Hurunui District leaders and farming advocates, all warning of slower response times, increased crime risk, and the erosion of trust in rural policing.

The plan would see several rural stations closed or lose frontline officers, with resources shifted to 24/7 hubs in Rangiora and Rolleston.

Amberley’s three officers would be replaced with a nine-to-five Rural Liaison Officer (RLO), while Culverden would lose two community police officer roles entirely.

Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black says the proposal would cut the district’s total police staff from nine to four, despite it being New Zealand’s fourth-largest territorial authority geographically.

“The idea that response times will remain ‘appropriate’ feels unrealistic when some communities are 60–90 minutes from the hub,” she said.

“It feels like we're fixing an urban problem at the expense of rural communities.”

Black praised the around 350 residents who turned out to a public meeting in Amberley’s Tin Shed on August 12.

“One of the things I’m most proud of in our district is the solidarity - the commitment to do what’s right and the concern about what change might mean, especially in the absence of good information,” she said.

She fears the loss of visible policing will lead to an increase in opportunistic crime, strain volunteer emergency services, and undermine public confidence.

“Can you imagine the impact on our volunteers to sit for an hour to wait for a police response at the scene of a sudden death or enter a volatile situation with one or more parties injured - that time may be the difference between life and death.”

Black said that while the low-crime rate statistics suggest there’s not much demand for law enforcement in the district, that is likely because there is a police presence with the current model.

‘We have boots on the ground. Remove them, and demand could rise.”

Black is also concerned about the potential for ‘vigilante justice’ in the absence of officers on the ground – something she describes as a “perverse outcome”.

“If people feel police are absent or ineffective there may be an increased likelihood of members of the public taking enforcement into their own hands.”

Federated Farmers: ‘A Cold Message to Rural Communities’

North Canterbury Federated Farmers president Bex Green says the plan has left rural residents “angry and disappointed.”

“Farming families rely on local police stations to feel safe and supported. Closing them down sends a cold message that rural communities don’t matter.”

She says the Government’s pledge to add 500 new police officers by the end of 2025 “isn’t lining up with reality for our rural communities”, warning that response times in places like Culverden could stretch to over an hour.

“You can’t build relationships and local knowledge from behind a desk in a centralised hub,” she said.

Federated Farmers is urging Police and the Government to reconsider the restructure and consult meaningfully with affected rural communities before any final decisions are made.

"This isn’t just about stations and rosters - it’s about the safety, confidence and resilience of the people who grow our food and support our economy," Green said.

Police Association: ‘Robbing Peter to Pay Paul’

New Zealand Police Association president Chris Cahill says the restructure fails to balance the demands of growing urban populations with the needs of rural communities.

“We recognise the increased demand for a 24-7 response model in Selwyn and Rangiora, but this should not be at the expense of the highly valued contribution rural response officers make to their local communities.”

Cahill says the benefits of rural policing often aren’t reflected in statistics.

“The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them,” he said, quoting Sir Robert Peel.

He warns the plan could see the closure of police stations in Arthur’s Pass, Culverden, Rakaia, Pleasant Point, and Saint Andrews, and the replacement of community-based officers with liaison roles intended to be additional rather than a substitute.

“The association asks PNHQ to prioritise the resourcing of its extra staffing needs with new staff, not at the expense of rural communities.”

Police: Proposal Aims to ‘Boost Core Services’

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill says the restructure is about improving service delivery and meeting demand.

“Our goal is to deliver a better service to our communities by boosting core policing services and strengthening our ability to meet demand, now and in the future.

We are focussed on the safety of our communities and our Police team.”

Hill says police have an obligation to consult with staff first but are now also inviting public feedback.

“We have already received some feedback and it’s great to hear how passionate our communities are about the service we provide. We want to continue to provide that great service.”

Next Steps

Public submissions close 5pm 18 August, with a  final decision expected 1 September.

Mayor Black says Hurunui District Council will be making a submission in favour of retaining the current police structure.

To submit feedback email: [email protected]

By Claire Inkson