Police Detention Legal Assistance

This section has resources for Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) providers. It includes information about the operation of the PDLA service and responsibilities of PDLA providers.

The PDLA service operates under the authority of the Secretary for Justice as a specified legal service pursuant to s 68(2)(b) of the Legal Services Act 2011.

Approval to provide PDLA services

Lawyers seeking PDLA approval listing should contact Provider Services for more information:

Email: legalaidprovider@justice.govt.nz

Phone: 04 918 8800

The PDLA approval application must include telephone number/s to ensure 24-hour accessibility and a description of the area or town/s where they are available to attend.

Management of PDLA rosters

The Operations Support Workforce team administers both rosters and lists for the PDLA service, as follows:

  • a roster for greater Auckland, which is structured by type of legal matter
  • rosters for Northland and Hamilton city, which are not structured by type of legal matter
  • lists for the remaining areas.

The Operations Support Workforce team provides NZ Police with the most up-to-date rosters or lists. For locations where a roster is in place, a PDLA lawyer must advise the Operations Support Workforce team as soon as possible if they are unable to attend any rostered session.

Email: PDLA@justice.govt.nz

PDLA Holiday Roster

The PDLA Holiday Roster for 2025/26 is now available below, along with our guidelines and invoice form. We encourage you to read this thoroughly and note your rostered shifts.

PDLA Holiday Roster 2025/26 [PDF, 244 KB]

PDLA Holiday Period Roster Guidelines 2025 [PDF, 159 KB]

PDLA Form 13 Holiday Period Invoice [PDF, 615 KB]

PDLA Holiday Roster Regional List [PDF, 142 KB]

Police Factsheet for PDLA Holiday Roster 2025 [PDF, 97 KB]

Please note that this roster is only valid from 6pm Friday 12th December 2025 until 6am Monday 5th of January 2026 and will replace the regular PDLA roster content. Outside of this timeframe, the regular regional PDLA rosters are in effect and will display as normal.

If you have any questions regarding the PDLA Holiday Roster, contact us at pdla@justice.govt.nz.

PDLA operational policy

This policy describes the operation of the PDLA service and includes:

  • information about the PDLA service
  • responsibilities of PDLA Lawyers
  • obtaining PDLA approval
  • assignment as a result of PDLA
  • travel
  • submitting invoices
  • forms and attendances
  • payment for PDLA services
  • guidelines for when to make face to face attendances.

Police Detention Legal Assistance Service - Operational policy [PDF, 350 KB]

To access the PDLA roster, click here(external link)

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