International Police Museum

INTERNATIONAL POLICE MUSEUM
OPEN HOURS
ADMISSION RATES
COLLECTION FUTURE
FIND US
PARKING

The International Police Museum is located on the ground floor and adjacent vehicle areas of the historic old ‘Public Trust’ building on State Highway 2 right in the heart of Dannevirke. The International Police Museum is the only Police Museum in New Zealand which displays both New Zealand and overseas Police related memorabilia and uniforms, vehicles and other items.

The wide ranging Police collections on display are the result of years of collecting by the owner and now museum curator, Bruce Lyon. Bruce was a law enforcement officer for 36 years in New Zealand (see – ‘About Us’).

The International Police Museum was created by Bruce to meet what he wanted and to fill an important role in fostering a greater understanding about Police and their role in society. Whilst there is a New Zealand Police Museum at Porirua, that does not cover international Police or memorabilia, with this believed to be the only museum in New Zealand to display this.

The collection on display includes a diverse range of items relating to Police from around the world, including teddy bears, badges and patches, key-rings, a wide range of model police vehicles, as well as Police uniforms from many countries – including Poland, Germany, Canada, U.S.A., Vietnam, the old U.S.S.R. and many others. There is a display of New Zealand Police uniforms and items as well as an ever growing display on the Ministry of Transport and it’s Traffic Officers – the MOT having ceased to exist in New Zealand in 1992.

There are also several real Police vehicles out the back of the museum including New Zealand Police and Ministry of Transport patrol vehicles and motorcycles, as well as U.S.A. and Italian police vehicles. This small but growing collection is a delight to both old and young.

View the memoriam board honouring the New Zealand Officers who have given their lives in their law enforcement role in New Zealand and overseas.

Meet a retired Police Officer with 36 years law enforcement experience, talk to him and delve into the Police occupation, as well as discuss and view uniforms, equipment and vehicles used by Police in their everyday work.

Visitors are always welcome to come in and share the hospitality and view the memorabilia displays.

Police officers from New Zealand and around the world can be assured of a warm welcome.

New Zealand Police uniforms and items are displayed with the approval of Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

OPEN HOURS:

The International Police Museum is open Saturday through to Wednesday and normally closed on Thursday and Friday.

Opening hours are 10am to 4pm.

The museum can be made available outside those hours (earlier or in the evening) and the usual open days (can open Thursday & Friday) - for specialist tours and groups such as clubs, by prior arrangement (see – Contact Us). If in doubt, ask.

Overseas Police Officers wishing to view the museum outside those hours should contact the International Police Museum (see – Contact Us), as we would like to accommodate such visitors wherever possible.

ADMISSION RATES:

Adult – 15 and over $ 8.00

Child under 15 – must be with an adult $ 4.00

Family – 2 adult & up to 4 children $20.00

Senior – over 65 $ 7.50

Police Officer (world-wide) - with appropriate ID $ 7.00

Special discounts are available for large groups and club visits – please enquire with us in advance.

Admission to the International Police Museum is free to those staying in the ‘Museum Lodge’ accommodation, and our accommodation guests can usually arrange to view the Museum outside of the normal museum open hours.

COLLECTION FUTURE:

The International Police Museum is dedicated to the preservation of Police items, as well as locating and displaying items to do with policing from all over the world.

International Police related items and uniforms are especially sought to enable the collection to increase and for a greater variety to be displayed.

Items and collections from other people are welcomed into the collection here. Should you have such things relating perhaps to a family member or past relative, we will always welcome contact to discuss this.

We can of course, scan your original photographs or other documents and return them to you.

FIND US:

The International Police Museum and Museum Lodge are located on the major State Highway 2, right in the middle of the township of Dannevirke.

You will find us on the corner of High Street (SH2) and Allardice Street. Just look for the large building with the dark red pillars along the front and side.

Dannevirke is just 40 minutes from Palmerston North, 1¼ hours from Napier and Hastings, and about 2 1/2 hours north of Wellington via SH1 or SH2.

PARKING:

Dannevirke has no parking restrictions or parking meters – a pleasure to visit.

Ample parking is available in the immediate vicinity to the museum.

Wonderful café’s and restaurants also abound in the immediate vicinity. We highly recommend ‘The Vault’ at the other end of the same block as the International Police Museum.