A pawfect Christmas gift is on its way. The Police Dog Trust’s annual calendar - starring some of the New Zealand Police’s canine talent - is open for pre-orders now, with deliveries from early November.

Proceeds from sales of the $20 calendar go to support the work of the Police Dog Charitable Trust.

The calendar also acknowledges the talented officers behind the lens - entries for the calendar are a competition for Police forensic photographers.

Senior Constable Alex Stammers from Tāmaki Makaurau Police is this year's winning photographer with his stunning photo of Auckland patrol dog Primo swimming on the trail of a ‘suspect’ during a training session (pictured above).

Inspector Todd Southall, chair of the Police Dog Trust and national coordinator of New Zealand Police Dogs, says the image conveys more than simply a dog in water.  

"Alex captured Primo’s wide-eyed focus and sense of purpose. The track doesn’t stop when an offender reaches water. Depending on circumstances, a police dog and handler will at times follow.”

Alex is pleased Primo’s photo is a winner, and that several other images of his also feature in the calendar. A police officer since 2004, he started relieving as a forensic photographer in 2011 and became a full-time photographer three years later.

“I had some ideas of what I’d like to create for the calendar and worked with our local dog section to make it happen,” he says. 

A Highly Commended certificate is awarded to Senior Constable Jane Dunn, Wellington, for her creative and technically challenging image of six very attentive Dunedin-based dogs. Eco, Leo, Wrex, Vann, Paikea and Harlie are this year's calendar cover stars and also feature inside, along with several other images by Jane.

A second Highly Commended certificate is awarded to Senior Constable Charlotte Dyndul, from Christchurch, for her photo of happy Labrador detector dog Rivet, surveying the view from the Port Hills.

Rivet by name and a riveting photo for March of Christchurch detector dog Rivet atop Canterbury’s Port Hills.  A Highly Commended photo by Senior Constable Charlotte Dyndul, Christchurch.

More than 200 entries were received from 12 photographers. The chosen photos feature dogs training in a variety of situations from high country search and rescue and tactical work through to training sessions detecting drugs and firearms. Naturally there are also some puppies at play.

In addition to the 13 main month images (January 2024-January 2025) there are 26 smaller images spread throughout the year, and a pullout poster featuring the winning shot of Primo on one side and a unqiue puppy image on the other side.  

All the money raised from calendar sales goes to provide extra support to New Zealand Police Dog Section, including buying imported genetics or helping buy imported dogs to strengthen the diversity and genetic breeding lines of the New Zealand Police Dog Section.

Calendars can be bought online through The Cop Shop for $20 - click on the calendar cover below to order yours (link is external)

Six attentive Dunedin patrol dogs wait with baited-breath for the next 'commandment' outside a local Taieri Church. This creative and technically challenging cover image resulted in a Highly Commended certificate for Senior Constable Jane Dunn, Wellington.

-Police Ten One Magazine.