Saturday marks a year since 28-year-old Constable Matthew Hunt was shot and killed in west Auckland during a routine traffic stop.
His family, friends, and police colleagues gathered at one of his favourite spots - Orewa Beach - to mark his anniversary by coming together.
At 10:37am the silence of this close-knit group was broken only by the Police Eagle helicopter flying low over Remembrance Reserve to remember one of its very own.
Hand in hand Matt's sister Eleanor and Mum Diane unveiled the message on a park bench near Orewa beach, a place where Matt would come to park up and do up his police notes after finishing for the day.
"In loving memory of Constable Matthew 'Matt' Hunt," the plaque reads, "whose life was tragically taken whilst on duty on the 19th of June 2020. A loved son, brother, friend and colleague. We will always remember you Matt."
On the morning of June 19 last year, Matt, a Criminology graduate, a sports fan, and an officer who was in his dream job was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in Massey.
The incident sparked a manhunt for an armed offender.
Waitemata area commander Inspector Mark Fergus said a "fine young constable went to work and never came home".
One year on, Matt's closest colleagues, his best friends and his family came together planting a 'living memorial' with mulch made from the thousands of flowers laid outside Henderson Police Station by the public after his death.
On Friday, police unveiled their memorial plaque for Matt at Henderson Police Station.
Insp Fergus says Matt's team "feel his loss every day, they feel it keenly".
A loss felt across the country but most heavily by those who knew him the best.
"Matt will forever have a place, Matt will forever have a place in our hearts, and now he will forever have a spot at the beach, overlooking us, at the place he called home," his friend Sam Swaffield said at the gathering.
Remembering Constable Matt Hunt, a son, brother, and friend who died just doing his job - one that he loved.
