The police force are weighing up the pros and cons of body-mounted cameras, despite having no current plans to introduce them in New Zealand.

A team at head office in Wellington is gathering information on how the technology is being used overseas. Evidence suggests officers wearing the cameras can halt or prevent physical confrontation before it starts.

Response Manager Inspector Jason Ross is emphasising that it's very early days, with no active plans to start using body-mounted cameras here. Ross argues the police need the information on hand to put the project in place if needed.

"They've clearly got some benefits and there's probably some risks associated with it. We would like to understand those further," he said.

Ross claims police are looking at how the cameras work "within a New Zealand context".

"It's a deep topic because it involves things like privacy and all the technical data just by itself, the storage of the footage."

Police Minister Michael Woodhouse is staying tight-lipped. When approached for comment, he didn't want to talk about any plans the police had, or whether the government would support them, releasing only a one line statement - that it's an operational matter.

However Police Association vice-president Luke Shadbolt is backing the move and insists that implementing the plan is a case of 'when not if', but there's limited funding - the latest government Budget was just the latest of several with no money for new equipment.

"Like with any new technology it is expensive to set up and to outfit the whole police force in cameras like this," Shadbolt said.

Labour Party police spokesman Kelvin Davis believes the government should stump up for it, as it could end up saving money in the long run.

"[The] technology's got the potential to make savings in many areas but there needs to be resourcing for police," he said.

"Physical safety is a greater priority especially if the use of these cameras defuses situations and tensions from the outset when people know they're being recorded."