Auckland shooting: Emotional police pay tribute to officer who 'paid highest price'

Sunday, 21 June 2020

Police paid tribute to fallen officer Matthew Hunt at a press conference in Henderson on Sunday June 21.

Police have given an emotional tribute to a young officer shot dead in Auckland, saying he 'paid the ultimate price' for his service.

Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers and Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan addressed media at Henderson Police Station today.

Hassan was emotional as she said the force had been supporting the family of Matthew Hunt, and police were 'absolutely devastated at the loss of our brother'.

The fatal shooting of Constable Matthew Hunt made officers realise they aren’t bulletproof.

'Matt's death is the ultimate sacrifice for someone in our line of work, working to keep the community safe.

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Waitematā District Commander Naila Hassan sheds a tear when talking about Matthew Hunt, who was shot and killed on Friday.

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'We spent time with Matt's mum yesterday, who is dealing with every parent's worst nightmare - outliving their child.'

Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers at a press conference on Sunday.

Hunt, 28, was shot and killed on Friday during a routine traffic stop in the West Auckland suburb of Massey, in an incident which left another officer and a member of the public injured.

Police had visited the seriously-injured officer in hospital.

'Understandably, the surviving officer has mixed feelings. Grateful to be alive, but devastated at the loss of his friend,' Hassan said.

Hassan thanked the public for offering messages of support, to our 'blue family of 14,000'.

'Our staff are humbled by the support. Matt was an outstanding police officer, he passionately demonstrated his desire to serve his community.

A Lego police officer figure and flowers lay outside Henderson Police Station, in Auckland, for Constable Matthew Hunt, who was shot and killed on Friday.

'He is and will continue to be sorely missed by us all. He was killed serving his country. There is no higher price.'

She said Hunt would be remembered for 'his desire for perfection, his desire to be the best he could be'.

'This was his dream job, and he was living his dream.'

Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers said the suspected shooter was found at 12.20pm on Friday.

He would not say if the gun involved was a military-style semi-automatic (MSSA) or assault rifle but did confirm the firearm used was a prohibited weapon.

A large group of people arrived at the police cordon on Reynella Drive, on Saturday, to lay some flowers for police officer Matthew Hunt who was shot and killed on Friday.

He said police had found a silver Mazda, dumped not far from Reynella Drive. Police had video of the incident, Chambers said.

'We have received quite a bit of footage, our plea to anyone who thinks they might have something that could assist us is to please get in touch with the Waitematā police.'

Meanwhile, floral tributes were left near the scene of Friday's shooting in Auckland as the community paid tribute to Hunt.

Many of those were then moved to the police station at Henderson, where members of the public continued arriving on Sunday afternoon to pay their respects.

Outside the station, a child's card appeared to show Hunt dressed in a blue uniform, with an angel's wings and a halo.

Tributes to Hunt at the police station in Henderson included hand-drawn cards.

Another card read: 'Rest in peace our lovely police officer Matthew. Condolence to the family. Aroha.'

Some offerings were from flower shops, while other people seemed to have brought flowers cut from their gardens.

'Rest in peace, Constable Hunt. Gone but not forgotten,' a card from Manurewa Police read.

Local churches, including the nearby St Paul's Catholic, also said pre-service prayers on Sunday for Hunt and his injured colleague on Sunday morning.

Elsewhere, hundreds of donors have contributed more than $17,000 online to raise funds for families of police officers killed in the line of duty.

Flowers lay on the grass at Reynella Drive, Auckland, close to where Constable Matthew Hunt was shot and killed on Friday.

The Police Association confirmed any funds raised on the Givealittle page will go into the association’s Charitable Trust bank account.

So will any other donations made for Hunt and the injured officer, who is still in hospital.

Hunt was the 33rd police officer to have been killed in New Zealand in the line of duty since 1890, and the first since 2009.

Hunt joined the New Zealand Police in October 2017, as a member of Wing 312.

In a statement, his family said it was his 'lifelong dream' to become a police officer.

'Matthew was a person of great integrity,' his family said.

'His closest friends were like his brothers and sisters and they along with his family are absolutely heartbroken by what has happened.'

Police Commissioner Andy Coster said Hunt spent most of his career working on the frontline in Orewa and Helensville.

He recently moved to the Waitematā Road Policing team.

'Our Police family across New Zealand are mourning the tragic and senseless death of Constable Hunt and our priority remains on supporting his family at this tragic time,' Coster said.

A 24-year-old man appeared in Waitākere District Court on Saturday charged with murder, attempted murder and dangerous driving causing injury.

The accused didn't enter a plea and was remanded in custody to reappear in the High Court on July 8.