With over 720 new officers set to graduate this year (nearly 50% more than average), New Zealand is racing to hit its 500-officer target before elections. Spoiler: they’ll miss it. Still, 170 former cops have rejoined, and even Aussie officers are now training in NZ under a fast-track 10-week program. Yet behind the numbers? A looming crisis. Attrition’s low now; just 4.6%; but the force is aging. Pay remains the top reason officers quit. After three months of talks, the Police Association has taken pay disputes to final arbitration. This isn’t just about filling seats; it’s about keeping them filled. Because next decade, as retirees walk out, recruiting might not be enough. What’s the real cost of underpaying frontline cops? Maybe we’ll find out sooner than expected.