At this time the police uniform was still made from heavy black wool serge and because there was no summer uniform they would have been extremely hot in our climate. It wasn’t until mid-1970, after many years of pressure from the Police Association, that a lighter weight fabric was introduced.

The uniform functions as a sort of shorthand for the position of its wearer. It is instantly recognisable, it speaks of authority and 
is conservative indicating reliability and steadfastness.

Read more about wearing the colour black in the New Zealand Fashion Museum publication Black: The history of black in fashion, society and culture in New Zealand.