Police Negotiation Team (PNT) are specialist part-time units of the

New Zealand Police The New Zealand Police ( mi, Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa) is the national police service and principal law enforcement agency of New Zealand, responsible for preventing crime, enhancing public safety, bringing offenders to justice, and maintai ...

dedicated to crisis negotiation. Nationwide, there are 17 Police Negotiation Teams, with each

Armed Offenders Squad The Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) are specialist part-time units of the New Zealand Police based around the country available to respond to high risk incidents using specialist tactics and equipment. The AOS was established when front-line poli ...

(AOS) having a dedicated PNT attached to it. The negotiators are all part-time volunteers drawn from the ranks of the front line police and are specially trained in psychology and crisis resolution techniques. As well as deploying to armed incidents with the AOS, they will also act as an independent unit and speak with suicidal people, offenders who have barricaded themselves in buildings, prison rioters, and kidnappers. They will also deploy overseas to provide support and advise to the

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) (Māori: ''Manatū Aorere'') is the public service department of New Zealand charged with advising the government on foreign and trade policy, and promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and in ...

when a New Zealand national has been kidnapped. Police officers complete a two-week police negotiation course at the

National Police College The Police Staff College, Bramshill, Bramshill House, Bramshill, (near Hook) Hampshire, England, was until 2015 the principal police staff training establishment in England and Wales. History The need for a training college for the police wa ...

to become eligible to join an NPT. Police negotiators have monthly one day refresher training. The PNT has a national Advanced Police Negotiation Team (APNT) to assist PNTs with major incidents.

References

New Zealand Police 1964 establishments in New Zealand {{NewZealand-org-stub