In the same year police uniforms were reviewed ... staff members were asked their views ... The review was ultimately to see the demise of the skirt for policewomen, and all female recruits were issued with trousers and wore the same forage cap as their male colleagues. An akubra-style, wide-brimmed, rabbit fur felt hat was introduced for duties in the hot summer sun.
The First Policewomen are sworn into the New Zealand Police and the newly created “Women’s Division.” They are required to wear civilian clothing, including hats and gloves (summer and winter) when on duty and initially have no power of arrest over men. The admission of women into the force had been strongly resisted by senior officers for many years, but was agreed to in response to shortages caused by the recruitment of men into the wartime military.
This cap was introduced with the first vitric blue uniform issued to policewomen from 1977. This was later than the same uniform issue to men as their tunics had to be made to measure initially and some delays in delivery occurred. Based on a British design and influenced by the Australian version with a white vinyl top, this was a smart and popular item, despite being prone to appearing grubby with age.
The change to this domed felt cap resulted purely from the need to economise as it was cheaper to produce that its predecessor. Its major failing soon became apparent in use however, as it was almost impossible to prevent the dome top from losing its shape. As a direct result of the untidy look it created, it was withdrawn in the late 1980s and women began wearing the male forage cap as standard issue.
Policewomen have a lightweight trousers option, and although the skirt is being retained, are encouraged to wear culottes. Police sergeant Rose McDermott models the new police patrol jersey while Senior Sergeant Steve Clements sports the new wide-brimmed hat.
Photographer Philip John Reid Evening Post ATL 27256
This photograph of Sergeant Jan Chipman and Constable Ann-Marie Harvey of Otahuhu displays the different cut to the Policewoman’s tunic, with the principal change being the collar. It is worn with a choice of skirt or trousers. The headgear has now become the universal forage cap.
See style of white summer hat, which was issued upon graduation (see uniform issue list). 'Louise Caskey, top graduate in the Royal New Zealand
Police College's 105th wing.' Photographer Ian Chappell Mackley.
Evening Post Collection EP/1986/6220/34. 11 December 1986.
This photograph displays a number of new features introduced during the early 1980s, the most obvious being the short sleeved shirt and absence of a tie, plus the latest, smaller epaulettes with round plastic numbers and the white topped hat for female Constables. Note also the new style belt and buckle worn by all ranks.
Women’s skirts are to be worn at a fashionable length, but not above the centre of the knee cap.
Undated extract, ca. 1987, from General Instructions U.28 covering matters of general appearance. On file 5/5/58 Duty Jacket Jan-Oct 1987.
Announcement of a pregnancy uniform for policewomen: ‘a vitric blue smock with patch pockets worn with the regulation police shirt, tie, epaulettes and number.’ Two are issued for the duration of the pregnancy and are to be returned after use. Stores officer, now the proud mum of a wee girl, Mrs Minoo Varma models the pregnant uniform.'
The Bulletin, October 1989
... endorsed police wearing shorts in summer but only when doing beach patrols or similar holiday activities. Shorts to be worn with navy walk socks, black shoes and short-sleeved shirt. Women have the option of culottes.
The Bulletin, March 1991
When Angela Harwood QSM, was promoted to the rank of Inspector in 1985, she wore one of the most unique items of headgear in the New Zealand Police at the time.
The design was based on the white, flat topped policewoman’s cap shown previously, but was all blue with braided peak inserted at the front. Whilst female commissioned officers were not unusual, during this period she was one of just a very few in the service. Photograph courtesy of the NZ Police.
'Police Constable Vickie Gaudie wearing the new policewomen's uniform with trousers, talks with five-year old Emily Jenns from Wadestown, in Lambton Quay, Wellington. Photographer unidentified.
Evening Post Collection EP/1979/0047/8A. 5 January 1979.
ATL 27256
The impracticality of the wide brimmed Policewomen’s hat soon became evident and resulted in the introduction of this British influenced design in 1957. Worn on the left by Timaru’s first policewoman, Constable Gwen Taylor.
Photo courtesy of G. Taylor ‘s published in the book A Century of Service by David Thomson Hendrik Kagel.
Shown in both profiles on the right at the time of first issue by two Wellington Constables, courtesy of the NZ Police Bulletin magazine.
In 1977 the debate raged about whether or not police women should be allowed to wear trousers ... The result was that Commissioner Burnside had some trouser suits made up to be worn on a trial basis in the main centres. Eventually, trousers became an optional item of uniform.
New and old uniforms of the New Zealand Police: Policewomen (from left) Marion Fergus (Lower Hutt) Joanna Jennings (Auckland), and Yvonne Nicholas (Wellington). Marion and Joanna model the new uniforms for women, while Yvonne models the old style.' Photographer unidentified
Evening Post Collection EP/1977/3831/10A. 29 September 1977 ATL 27255
From February 1976 further changes were progressively introduced. Uniforms in a vitric blue material, were lighter and cooler than the existing blue serge. A new style shoulder patch appeared on the uniforms bearing NZ’s coat of arms and the word “POLICE”. Police women and commissioned officers who haad previously worn white shirts were given the new mazarine blue cotton polyester shirts issued now to all ranks. Minor alterations to the polocewomen’s uniform continued to the made throughout the decade, including the introcution of a new cap for summer wear.
Men’s and women’s new uniform 1976. From left Chief Superintendent B. W. Gibson; Constable L. Tideswell (women's uniform); Sergeant J. A. Franklin modelling male constable's uniform; Sergeant C. I. Beattie modelling superintendent's uniform. The files relating to this uniform change do not appear to have survived. However, Michael Burnside, son of K. B. Burnside, the commissioner who initiated the change, remembers his father deliberately choosing to move away from the old dark blue to lighten up the image of the police and stress their civilian role.
In an unusual move and responding to a demand from the younger members, this uniform consisting of a short skirt and boots was introduced in 1972 and followed the fashion trend of the times. Not so popular with the more mature members, it was a fashion statement that did not last long before the boots were dispensed with and the skirt lengthened once more. Photograph NZ Police Museum
Policewomen are permitted to wear boots with the fashionable shorter skirt length. (This fashion did not last long and does not appear to have been widely taken up.) This is known from a press photograph.
Alexander Turnbull Library Evening Post Collection 10/4
NZ Legal: Police: Uniform 2955/ 17 June1972
Policewomen were not particularly happy with their uniform. The pockets were inadequate to carry all the equipment such as handcuffs and notebook. The official response was to provide them with a shoulder bag. Some felt the skirts were too long and hampered them when chasing a suspect. The desire for shorter skirts probably had more to do with the undoubted fashion statement of the 1960s ... the miniskirt ... many shortened their skirts well above the approved uniform length.
This collection of wooden pocket batons were issued at Auckland and indicate the variety of designs used. The oldest is at far left and dates from the 1890s. The short variant in the centre was issued to women police from the 1960s, its length being determined by the requirement for carriage in the police issue handbag. Ken Brewer collection.
The uniform for women police was reviewed for the first time in 1957... The felt-cap, with a peak in front, was modelled on that worn by the Queen at a Trooping the Colour Ceremony ... Patrolling in summer temperatures later that year was also made much more comfortable by the introduction of a white open-necked blouse, worn with navy-blue epaulettes.
...smart, was individually tailored and made of dark blue serge ... “big balloon pockets and upper pockets over each breast and the buttons did up the men’s way. The calf length skirt was in keeping with the fashion of the era”. White shirts with detachable collars that required studs and a navy tie were worn with the suit. The outfit was complemented by black nylon stockings and comfortable laced walking shoes that were not to o low - one careful measurement made them an inch and a half high. Each police woman was issued with two uniforms and a gabardine raincoat.
The women’s original felt hat was replaced by the forage cap in 1957 (women have never worn any version of the Police helmet).
New Women’s Hat Shows photo of proposed peaked cap. The Bulletin, July 1957
A new style of peaked cap for policewomen to replace the wide brimmed version is selected and submitted for formal approval.
This was the production version of the previous badge and was worn on the wide brimmed hats of the first police women’s uniform issued in 1953. It was also intended to be worn on the forage caps of Constables and NCO’s when their redesigned, open necked uniforms were issued from 1956. It is based upon the design of the previous prototype badge, but varies with the Tudor Crown being the open style instead of solid. This variant was made just prior to King George VI death in 1952 and had only been issued to policewomen.
This photograph of Auckland’s Constable Molly Sim was taken in 1952 when New Zealand Policewomen were first issued with a uniform, despite some being recruited in 1940. The wide brimmed hat was the crowning glory of this historic uniform and is shown her to good effect. The first curved “NZ Police” cap badge with the Tudor Crown is clearly visible and was introduced with this headgear.
In 1956 the men’s ‘other ranks’ uniform was completely revamped to follow the trend set in 1952 by the new female uniform. Still in dark blue serge material, it now featured an open necked style, with blue nylon shirt and tie. For the first time the tunic could be discarded during summer and the men were permitted to conduct their duties in shirts only, which required the introduction of the first epaulettes for their use. The seniority numbers were now worn on the lapel instead of the collar and this uniform was worn by all non-commissioned ranks.
Group of women police recruits at Lyttelton Police Training School 1953-54, with instructor Sergeant E. J. G. (Ted) Hotham. NZ Police Centennial Museum. The women's uniform, except for colour, closely resembles that of the NZ Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Tunics of women and commissioned officers were belted; those of male constables and NCOs were not. The register number has moved to the left side of the collar (see following entry). See Insignia section for practice relating to chevrons during the 1950s and 1960s.
Although first recruited and trained from 1940, policewomen did not receive their first uniform until 1952. As can be seen here, it consisted of an open necked button front tunic worn with shirt and tie, a three quarter length skirt, wide rimmed hat and gloves. The original badge for this uniform was issued with a Saint Edwards, or Kings Crown and had to be replaced shortly afterwards upon the accession to the Throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Photo courtesy of “Trentham in Retrospect,” a history of Police Training in New Zealand by the NZ Police.
