While plans to boost police numbers are not new - an extra $388 million for police was announced by the Prime Minister in February - pressure has been mounting in recent weeks to combat what has been described as "out of control" youth crime in some Northland towns.
An incident with teenage boys raiding a liquor store and trying to smash their way into a Kaikohe service station focussed national attention on the issue.
The Police Association has been campaigning for extra staff in Northland for some time, saying the region has the worst police shortage in the country.
Mr Bush said the budget boost provided a significant opportunity for police to address the pressures facing some districts.
The first phase included the recruitment of 220 constabulary staff. The first wing to include new recruits funded through the investment package, Wing 308, would start on July 10, 2017. Those 80 recruits would graduate in October 2017.
One of the Government's targets was for 95 percent of New Zealanders to live within 25km of a 24/7 police base by 2022.
"We recognise that our regional communities have different pressures and concerns and feel safer if they know a 24/7 Police response service is nearby.
Other plans included setting up a single non-emergency number, a new crime-reporting line, 12 mobile police stations, 20 extra ethnic liaison staff and 24/7 operation of the Eagle helicopter.
"All of this makes police more accessible and more visible so that we can be where people need us, when they need us."
It would be up to District Commanders to decide where the new staff were best placed within their districts, Mr Bush said.
Apart from Kaitaia the three other stations to go 24/7 in the 2017/18 year will be Matamata, Wairoa and Rolleston.
