Welcome to the Canterbury District Police. We cover the very diverse landscape of the east coast of the south island.

From east to west, the district traverses from the coastal plains through the foothills, to high in the Southern Alps. From north to south, you travel from the Conway River, (just south of Kaikoura), to the Waitaki River, south of Timaru.

The area policed ranges from isolated countryside, bush and mountain regions, to rural towns and cities with their very different policing needs.

Canterbury District is based in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. Superintendent Gary Knowles is District Commander.

Our Goals

Our main goal is to work with our communities to make where we live, and the lives of the people who live and visit here, safer. We aim to reduce crime and the fear of crime, in particular burglary and car theft, and increase personal security and road safety.