30/07/2025
Today is the 34th birthday of Constable Matthew Hunt, the 33rd officer killed in the line of duty serving his community with the New Zealand Police.
Matt was a quiet, private humble person who disliked attention and fanfare but he deserved it. His colleagues describe him as the next commissioner, he was planning a career as a Detective when he was killed at work by a gutless coward on June 19 2020.
He had just finished his constable probation and was on secondment to wait for the next step of joining the CIB. He had always wanted to join the police with his first experience at 16 and again at 18 he talked to recruiting who advised him to get some experience. He went overseas with his mates, he studied criminology, worked at the courts and the prison until the time was right for him to fulfill his dream.
To his friends and family he was more than a uniform he was their Matt, the one they could rely on. His lifelong mates had him by their side through everything, at events, weddings, golf and life. He always had time for them all and inspired them to live life better each day.
His mum Diane Hunt gave him everything a mother could growing up and could not have asked for better, he was becoming the man he was meant to be. Over the last 5 years she has advocated and fought for justice for Matt and so other families can be spared the trauma and grief.
Matt became an unexpected celebrity and each anniversary people remember him as the police officer that was shot but he was much more than that.
I’m so honoured to be working with his friends family and others involved in his life to document the person he was in his life and work. Matt has a legacy to be shared and his book is underway , coming soon “behind the blue”, Matthew Hunts Lasting Legacy
Happy Birthday Matt
