Police staff and members of the Police family will gather on Friday to mark Police Remembrance Day.
Services are held every year to honour staff who have been slain or died as a result of their duties, as well as serving, retired and former Police staff who have passed away in the preceding 12 months.
The national Police Remembrance Day service will be held at The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua this Friday 27 September, with local services held the across the country as well.
Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement will attend the national ceremony on behalf of the Commissioner of Police along with the Police Minister, the Hon Stuart Nash. Dr Anwar Ghani from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand will give an interfaith blessing during the ceremony.
Wreaths will be laid at the memorial wall by Deputy Commissioner Clement, the Police Minister Hon Stuart Nash and Deputy Chief Executive Kaye Ryan and recruits will perform a haka to honour those being remembered.
Police staff throughout New Zealand will be wearing the Police Remembrance Day Huia pin, which was developed by the Police Association and New Zealand Police. Now lost to us, the Huia bird's tail plumage is something rare and special and to wear it is considered by Māori to be a great honour. By incorporating the Police chevron into the Huia tail feather, the design of the pin symbolises the honouring of someone special, now lost to Police.
ENDS
Media Note:
Media are invited to attend the Police Remembrance Day service starting at 11am on Friday 27 September. The national service will be held at The Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua and Police districts will hold regional services at the same time.
All media should plan to be on site by 10.45am.
The national service will be also be live streamed on the New Zealand Police Museum Facebook page from 11am.
If you are planning to attend, or want details on your nearest district service, please email the Police Media Centre by 12pm Thursday, 26 September.
The full list of those people so far identified as having died as a result of their Police duties is on the Police website.