An Auckland police dog who helped ensure the safety of royals, presidents and All Blacks has shown why he's the best in the business.

Kea the English labrador sniffed out explosives and completed a number of other tasks to be crowned a champion at the National Police Patrol and Detector Dog Championships last month.

​He is one of senior constable Ross Clarke's top dogs and has been sniffing out explosives and bombs for the past eight years.

CATRIN OWEN/STUFF Kea will be hanging up his collar as a police dog after eight years in the force.

Clarke and Kea, who are based at the Ellerslie dog base, won the explosive detector dog competition and the AVSEC Shield.

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Day to day the duo go around stadiums, buildings and other areas to clear them before VIPs enter.

SUPPLIED Kea won the explosive detector dog competition and the AVSEC Shield.

He's made sure venues are safe for royals, presidents, politicians, All Blacks and the general public, he said.

"We did the Lions tour and a little bit of work with the election, just clearing the venue to making the safe place for everyone," Clarke said.

Clarke is no stranger to winning prizes at the championships having already won multiple prizes before.

SUPPLIED Senior constable Owen Davies and Quid, senior constable Ross Clarke and Kea, senior constable Nathan Kluit and Raka and senior constable Hamish McPhillips and Capo at the championships.

But eight-year-old Kea's win was bittersweet as he was nearing the end of his career, he said.

"It is a nice way for him to retire," Clarke said.

Three other dog handlers from Ellerslie travelled to the championships in Wellington and Wairarapa.

Senior constable Owen Davies and his dog Quid took home second prize in the police patrol dog championship.

The Ellerslie dog base has more than 40 dogs based there with 15 puppies fostered out and 27 dogs on the replacement programme.

Senior constable Nathan Kluit also competed in Wellington but didn't place.

"Day to day we cover from the Bombays to Rodney. So if anything happens or someone's done a runner then we'll be called to support staff with the dog if it's violence related."

The dog handlers were also called to track people, Kluit said.

Police dogs' national coordinator Todd Southall said the standard across all the categories was very high.

"They've worked extremely hard to get here and to win a title is pretty special.

"It reflects the work they do day and night keeping our communities and borders safe."

Teams from New Zealand Police, Customs, Corrections, Aviation Security and the New Zealand Army competed at the championships.