This week Police staff and members of the Police family will gather to mark Police Remembrance Day which will, for the first time, honour 14 Police officers who died in the 1918 Influenza Epidemic.
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 28 September, with local services held the across the country as well.
Commissioner Mike Bush, who will attend the national ceremony, says Remembrance Day is the most poignant day in the Police calendar.
“It’s a time for all of us, not just Police, to reflect on the bravery and sacrifice of those who have been slain on duty, as well as the contribution of those who have died as a direct result of their efforts to keep their communities safe.
“In a number of these cases, the deaths were the result of criminal acts, and in others they were caused by crashes, accidents, drownings while attempting to save lives and illnesses contracted while carrying out their Police duties – such as the 14 who died in 1918 influenza epidemic.
“Whatever the reason, it’s important that we identify all these staff and ensure they are properly honoured and remembered, not just by us, but by the communities they served.”
After the service the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement and Police Minister Hon Stuart Nash will lay wreaths at the memorial wall before Police recruits 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 New Zealand Police and the Police Association. 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 28 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. The RNZPC service will be also be live streamed on the New Zealand Police Museum Facebook page.
If you are planning to attend, or want details on your nearest district service, please email elizabeth.evans@police.govt.nz by 12pm Thursday, 27 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.
