Officer killed on duty honoured at police graduation

Wednesday, 24 June 2020

New graduate, Constable Sean Fabling, honoured Matthew Hunt in his speech this week.

Slain police officer Matthew Hunt was honoured by 38 new cops who graduated from their initial training at the Royal New Zealand Police College.

The new graduates wore pins to honour him at their graduation on Wednesday.

Each pin was a stylised huia tail feather featuring the police chevron, and symbolised the loss of someone special to police.

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.

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Matthew Hunt was honoured in the speeches at Wednesday police graduation.

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Matthew Hunt was honoured in the speeches at today’s police graduation.

Minister of police Stuart Nash said Constable Hunt’s death on duty weighed heavily on Wednesdays' graduation.

Minister of Police Stuart Nash honoured Matthew Hunt in his speech.

“In March 2018 I attended Matt’s graduation. The officers in today’s wing have all the passion and enthusiasm for their new career that the constables of recruit wing 312 displayed more than two years ago,” Nash said.

“The best tribute today’s new constables can pay to Constable Hunt is to live their careers with the same passion he had. Together we marked a minute’s silence in honour of Matt.'

Wally Haumaha, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and Minister of Police Stuart Nash.

More than a third of the new officers are female; 13 per cent are Maori; the youngest is aged 20 and the eldest is 55.

Leadership Award winner constable Sean Fabling, posted to Waitematā District, honoured Constable Matthew Hunt in his speech.

Matthew Hunt was shot and killed on Friday during a routine traffic stop in the West Auckland suburb of Massey

'Less than three years ago [Matthew Hunt] stood in this very gym in front of his family and in front of his new extended family of police officers.'

'I understand this tragic event will have caused many of you to fear for your loved ones today, many of us ourselves will be having these fears ourselves,' he said.

It’s been back to basic training for Fabling, who entered the Army a decade ago and spent six years serving in the Infantry.

Civilian life called to him – but only for a while.

“I have an affinity for public service, so I’m looking to police for a rewarding job where I can serve my community,' he said.

Constable Tabitha Avery, who had an acting stint on Shortland Street for eight years, said all her achievements so far had taken hard work and determination – including becoming a police officer.

It was through acting that Avery first considered joining the police.

She was sent to audition for a 'New Cops' commercial and one of the questions on the script was “Could you do it?”

“And I thought, ‘could I?’ And I decided I could, so that’s why I’m here,' she said.

Avery will also be posted to the Waitematā District.

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