Managed Security Services

Security Services in New Zealand

New Zealand’s luxury retail is concentrated in central Auckland, with a smaller but high-spending group of boutiques in Queenstown that serves international visitors. Wellington and Christchurch add department stores, corporate offices and premium shopping centres.

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Security Considerations in New Zealand

New Zealand is a compact market, but its two main luxury locations are very different. Auckland trades all year on a mix of local, corporate and cruise visitors, while Queenstown depends on international tourism and the ski season. MGP manages the programme, including Post Orders, presentation standards, supervision and reporting, while officers are supplied by vetted New Zealand security companies holding the required licences.

Summer, Christmas and the January holidays fall together, and many local businesses close for part of that period, which tightens the supply of relief officers. Queenstown has a small local labour pool and limited housing, so cover for peak weeks needs to be arranged well in advance. Supervisors covering both cities must plan around flights, since the distance by road is long.

How to become a licensed security guard in New Zealand

New Zealand licenses private security through the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (PSPLA), part of the Ministry of Justice. Security companies need a company license, sole traders need an individual license, and employees and contractors who do security work need a certificate of approval (COA).

Regulator: Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (PSPLA), Ministry of Justice. www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/pspla

Individual requirements

Staff of a company or individual license holder need a current certificate of approval; working without one, or employing staff without one, can bring a fine of up to NZ$20,000
Crowd controllers need a COA whether they work for a bar, club or event organizer or for a security company
Property guards, personal guards and crowd controllers must complete three Unit Standards (27364, 27360 and 27361) or three Skills Standards (40146, 40145 and 40147) totaling 12 credits, or hold the New Zealand Certificate in Security (Foundation) Level 3 or (Advanced) Level 4
Training is required only once and does not need to be repeated to renew
Overseas training must be checked with NZQA or the PSPLA for equivalence
Permanent disqualifying grounds include ever being sentenced to imprisonment and certain serious sexual offenses
Convictions in the last 7 years for dishonesty, violence, drug supply, harassment, firearms (Arms Act 1983) and unlicensed security work, among others, are also grounds for disqualification
Bankruptcy, a license or certificate canceled in the last 7 years, or a currently suspended license or certificate are also grounds for disqualification
The Authority can consider waiving a disqualifying ground if it is declared and explained in the application
An individual license holder needs at least 12 months of experience in each class applied for

How to apply

Check the disqualifying criteria and declare any that apply in your application
Apply to the PSPLA online (quicker and cheaper) or by mail, choosing the classes of work
If your training is not yet complete, apply for a COA with a temporary certificate (online fee NZ$256), which usually takes about 10 days and lasts 3 months
Complete the required Unit Standards or Skills Standards before the temporary certificate ends; otherwise you must apply for a second temporary certificate by mail

For security companies

A business that provides private security services for money needs a company license; operating without one can bring a fine of up to NZ$40,000 for the person and NZ$60,000 for the company. At least one company officer (a director or the chief executive) must have 12 months of experience in the last 5 years in the relevant classes. Online application fees are NZ$840 for a company license and NZ$695 for an individual license, and a new COA costs NZ$232 online. Paper applications cost more (NZ$989, NZ$818 and NZ$273).

Licenses and COAs are renewed through the PSPLA renewal service. Training does not need to be repeated at renewal.

Sources

Requirements change. Confirm current rules with the official regulator before applying. This summary is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.

Cities in New Zealand

Coverage in other areas, including Wellington, Christchurch, Arrowtown, Wanaka, Tauranga and Hamilton, is arranged on request.

See the Oceania overview.

Security Officer Requirements in New Zealand

Security companies need a company licence and sole traders need an individual licence. Employees who do security work need a certificate of approval. Working without one can bring a fine of up to $20,000, and running a company without a licence up to $40,000 for the person and $60,000 for the company. Source
Property guards, personal guards and crowd controllers must complete three unit standards (27364, 27360 and 27361) or three skills standards worth 12 credits in total. Training is required only once. Source
A temporary certificate lets a new guard work for 3 months while completing the required training. Source
An individual licence requires 12 months of experience in the last 5 years in the classes applied for. For a company licence, at least one company officer must meet that requirement. Source
Convictions for dishonesty, violence, drug supply, harassment or firearms offences in the last 7 years, or any past prison sentence, are grounds for disqualification, though the Authority can waive them. Source

Regions of New Zealand

Northland
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Gisborne
Hawke’s Bay
Taranaki
Manawatū-Whanganui
Wellington
Tasman
Nelson
Marlborough
West Coast
Canterbury
Otago
Southland

Discuss Coverage in New Zealand

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