Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington will have one Armoured Special Purpose Vehicle (ASPV) each.

Police have bought three bullet-proof SUVs to be used in high-risk firearms incidents and major national security events.

The Toyota Land Cruisers have been fitted with ballistic armour and will be based in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington but will be deployed across the country as needed, a police media statement said.

The announcement comes weeks after armed police units were formed in three districts, following the Christchurch mosque terror attack. Police also cited an ongoing meth and crime risk.

The vehicles won't carry arms, but staff in the vehicles will be armed.

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Police have budgeted $1.23 million for the three vehicles, which includes training and ongoing maintenance.

The SUVs will be operational this month.

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"Examples of previous incidents where the vehicles would have been deployed are the Napier siege in 2009, and in a shooting incident in Whangarei in 2017 where two people lost their life and police were fired on as they tried to get to the victims," the statement read.

"These vehicles provide protection for staff in the same way their ballistic body armour does and will enable them to safely carry out their jobs, keeping themselves and the public safe.

"The vehicles will be used at incidents where there is a requirement for our staff to have an extra level of protection."