Federated Farmers and the New Zealand Police have signed a Letter of Agreement designed to promote a ‘collaborative working relationship between the police and rural New Zealand’.

The Letter of Agreement, a first between the organisations, was signed by Police Commissioner Peter Marshall and Federated Farmers President Bruce Wills in Wellington on Tuesday.

Commissioner Marshall said Federated Farmers has strong networks throughout the rural community and tapping into these will be beneficial in communicating public safety messages.

Bruce Wills says the agreement goes much deeper than cooperation in tactical operations.

He says it is about building a relationship that will promote good public order in rural New Zealand.