"Get better work stories": That's the slogan New Zealand Police used for years to attract new recruits. But those stories will have to wait.
Police hit pause on recruitment in June after receiving a huge increase in applications.
It's creating uncertainty for budding cops - and there are fears potential recruits could give up on a police career.
Brittany Barton is working out as she works on her dream of becoming a cop.
COVID-19 forced the 28-year old out of work in London and back to New Zealand.
She's staying fit to become a police recruit after interning with them while studying law.
"I loved their outlook, I loved what they were doing for the community," she tells Newshub.
But a pause on new applications in mid-June meant she couldn't even apply.
"They said they couldn't really give me a date of when they were going to open them back up."
Police say application numbers surged before June, as people looked for a career change.
So, after years of trying to attract new recruits they hit pause on applications. It's something the Police Association president never thought he'd see.
"It's really positive but yeah it's a surprise," Chris Cahill says.
But Cahill worries the wait could force potential recruits to give up on the career.
"If there's a waiting list why not front foot it, get more money from the Government and reach that 1800 target even sooner," he says.
That target is to have 1800 new cops - over and above those leaving the force - by 2023.
With 160 recruits in training and 320 still expected to start by the end of the year, police say they're on track to meet that target.
"It's highly likely that before the end of the year we will actually open up accepting applications in some parts of New Zealand," says police's deputy chief executive for people and capability, Kaye Ryan.
In the meantime, the advice is to stay fit and stick with it.
Two things Barton is doing.
