A police officer who was killed in the line of duty in New Zealand has been identified as Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt.
Constable Hunt, 28, was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop in Massey, west Auckland, on Friday morning.
A 24-year-old man has been charged with murder. Police are also searching for Natalie Bracken, 30, who they believe was an accessory after the fact to the murder.
Constable Hunt first started working with New Zealand Police as a member of Wing 312 on 30 October 2017.
He spent most of his career working on the frontline at Orewa and Helensville Stations before recently moving to the Waitemata Road Policing Team.
Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop in Massey, west Auckland, on Friday morning
Pictured: Flowers are placed outside Henderson Police Station in Auckland on Saturday
Constable Hunt’s family, who have asked for privacy to ‘grieve the sudden loss of our son, brother and friend’, released a statement through police.
‘Matthew was a person of great integrity,’ the statement read.
‘His closest friends were like his brothers and sisters and they along with his family are absolutely heartbroken by what has happened.
‘He was passionate about sport and his physical fitness and was thrilled to enjoy the recent Blues game at Eden Park with his mates.’
The family said the 28-year-old was raised on the Hibiscus Coast by his mother Diane and with his sister Eleanor and he attended Orewa College.
‘It was his life-long dream to be a police officer,’ the family said.
Constable Hunt (pictured) first started working with New Zealand Police as a member of Wing 312 on 30 October 2017. He spent most of his career working on the frontline at Orewa and Helensville Stations before recently moving to the Waitemata Road Policing Team
A member of hold a ‘police lives matter’ sign outside Henderson Police Station on Saturday
Police are also asking for the public’s assistance to locate Natalie Bracken (pictured), in connection with the incident
Before joining the New Zealand Police, Constable Hunt completed a BA in Criminology and worked at Auckland Prison as a Case Manager.
He also lived in the UK before he returning to New Zealand to join the police.
Constable Hunt was one of two officers shot during Friday’s morning incident. A member of the public was also hit by a car.
The two other victims remain in Auckland Hospital in a stable condition.
The tragedy unfolded during a routine traffic stop.
It is understood the shooter used a long-barreled shotgun they pulled from their car.
A large-scale search was sparked after the gunman fled the scene in the car, forcing local schools into lockdown.
The incident occurred in the Auckland suburb of Massey, 17km west of the city’s CBD, on Friday morning
A police officer keeps guard of the area after the shooting in western Auckland (pictured on Friday)
Mourners leave floral tributes for Constable Hunt in Auckland on Saturday morning
‘No words exist to ease your loss, your pain and your suffering,’ a tribute to the victim’s family reads
According to Newshub, the 24-year-old accused shooter showed no emotion while appearing via audio visual link before JP Gerald Rowan.
He has been granted interim-name suppression.
Police are also asking for the public’s assistance to locate Ms Bracken, in connection with the incident.
Detective Superintendent Dave Lynch said they do not have information to suggest Ms Bracken is in possession of a firearm but she does have a previous history for a possession of a knife.
She is known to associate with people that have affiliations to a number of gangs, they said.
‘If you see her, then please do not approach her but call 111 immediately,’ Mr Lynch said.
‘Police are asking Ms Bracken to contact Police herself.’
Armed police are seen on Friday morning in Massey (pictured), west of Auckland, where one officer was shot dead and another seriously injured during a traffic stop
Emergency services are seen treating a police officer on Friday morning (pictured)
An officer is seen cordoning off the area of the shooting on Friday morning (pictured) which left one police officer dead
New Zealand Police said they were mourning the loss of one of their own.
‘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,’ a statement read.
‘Along with this, we are also ensuring the welfare of all other police staff who attended the incident as well as the other injured officer and injured member of the public.’
A ‘thank you’ sign is seen among floral tributes for Constable Hunt on Saturday morning
Police are seen at the scene of the Auckland shooting (pictured) which left one officer dead and another badly injured on Friday morning
Pictured: Floral tributes outside Henderson Police Station after a police officer was fatally shot
Firearm officers are seen patrolling the area on Friday (pictured) where the shooting took place
Armed police are seen standing guard on Friday morning (pictured)
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the death was devastating.
‘To lose a police officer is to lose someone working for all of us, but also a family member, someone’s loved one and friend.
‘My condolences go to them and to their police whanau,’ Ms Ardern said, using the Maori word for family.
Paula Bennett, the MP for Auckland’s Upper Harbour wrote on Twitter: ‘Our local west Auckland police are the best I’ve ever known.
‘A love for their community, a real desire to protect and serve.
‘There are no words to express my sincere sadness as they and their families deal with the worst possible event. We are all with you at this time.’
The last police officer to die in the line of duty in New Zealand was back in February 2011 during the Canterbury earthquake when the CTV building collapsed in Christchurch.
An armed police officer is seen holding a gun at the scene on Friday morning (pictured) in western Auckland
Emergency services are seen treating a patient at the scene in Massey on Friday morning (pictured) after the shooting