Police Ten 7

New Zealand's earliest versions of a police frontline crime show were Police 5 hosted by Keith Bracey from 1976 until 1986, and a local version of Crimewatch which was hosted by Ian Johnstone with Natalie Brunt (1987–88), Carol Hirschfeld (1989–93), Tiana Tofilau (1994) and Mairanga White (1995–96). Crimewatch aired from 1987 until 1996 when it was replaced a year later by Crimescene with White as host; it aired for two years, finishing in 1998.

Police Ten 7 was first launched by public broadcaster TVNZ in 2002. The series was hosted by retired Detective Inspector Graham Bell and produced by Australian production company Screentime.[2][3][4] The series took its name from the New Zealand Police ten-code 10-7, which means "Unit has arrived at job". As the show's host, Bell developed a reputation for "straight-talking" and provocative language directed against suspects including "vicious morons," "gutless goons," and "lunatic scumbags."[2]

In September 2014, Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto succeeded Bell as Police Ten 7's host.[5] Lemoto's appointment was accompanied by a format update and a cultural shift emphasising the programme's values and representations.[2][3]

By 2021, Police Ten 7 faced allegations of racism against Māori and Pasifika peoples and criticism for its alleged favourable portrayal of policing. Auckland councillor Efeso Collins called TVNZ to scrap the series, claiming that it harmed Māori and Pasifika communities for "low-level" entertainment.[6] Similar criticism was echoed by Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, who claimed that the show perpetuated negative and racist stereotypes of certain ethnic communities.[2] In response, former host Bell defended Police Ten 7, claiming that certain sectors of New Zealand society were "grossly over-represented in the crime statistics."[6]

Following allegations of racism, TVNZ Screentime commissioned Auckland University of Technology dean of law Khylee Quince and media consultant Karen Bieleski to conduct an independent review of Police Ten 7. In late September 2021, the review criticised the series' "goodies versus baddies" approach to crime and policing and Bell's provocative language. However, the review praised later episodes for focusing on the impact of crime and the mental state of participants. Still, the review concluded that many members of the public did not trust the series due to its earlier episodes. In response to the review, TVNZ's director of content Cate Slater and Screentime chief executive Philly de Lacey confirmed that the series would continue but would be more "responsible and representative of New Zealand's population."[4]

Following the 2021 independent review, the show was renamed Ten 7 Aotearoa in April 2022. In addition, the show's format and style was "refreshed" to give a more representative picture of policing in New Zealand and to focus on crime prevention and education. Presenter Sam Wallace also joined the series as co-host.[7][2][3]

On 10 February 2023, TVNZ announced that Ten 7 Aotearoa would be cancelled due to declining audience ratings. Director of content Slater attributed the decline in viewership to the limited viewing window on digital platforms following its initial broadcast and a decline in broadcast viewership towards online viewership. By February 2023, the series had produced a total of 750 episodes across 29 seasons. Ten 7 was credited with 763 arrests and solving over 1,000 crimes including serious assaults and homicides.[2][3][7] The series also featured 4,607 criminal cases.[7] Ten 7 concluded with three one-hour specials in April 2023 on TVNZ 2.[2]

The crimes and wanted offenders section of the show usually features up to five crimes or persons wanted for various offences, including burglary, assault, and drug offences.

One case is the episode's main case, and involves the host visiting the scene of the crime. A local detective takes the host and the audience through the events preceding, during, and following the offence. The alleged offender or offenders wanted are described, often with security camera footage or IdentiKit images. Other cases are described in smaller detail, and are either crimes with unknown offenders, or known offenders with warrants for their arrest.

Viewers are instructed to come forward with any information by telephoning the Police Ten 7 hotline on 0800-10-7-INFO (0800-10-7-4636). Information provided through the Police Ten 7 hotline has resulted in over 450 arrests since the show began, and some recent episodes have resulted in some fast arrests – one show in July 2009 resulted in all five wanted faces being arrested within 48 hours.[8]

Each episode usually follows two or three call-outs by police in various cities around New Zealand, for various offences including alcoholism, drugs, violence, vandalism, theft, and general disorder. Sometimes the stories are light-hearted to break with the serious tone of the show. Events included in the 2010 season included the policing of University of Otago's Orientation Week and the Wellington Sevens. The then-coach of the Sevens was questioned over a parking violation, but was released when it was established he had been parked there for "at least thirty seconds".[9]