Police celebrate officer shot 100 years ago

An image from the exhibition at the New Zealand Police Museum in Porirua marking the 100th anniversary of the Waihi miners strike. Photo / Supplied

An exhibition celebrating the actions of a shot police officer who killed a striking Waihi gold miner, 100 years ago, is opening at the New Zealand Police Museum at Porirua tonight.

Museum manager Rowan Carroll said the exhibition was significant because it recognised the actions of the officer who had been maligned in history.

Gold miner Frederick Evans won infamy during the 1912 mining strike after dying a violent death - the first of only two people ever to die in an industrial dispute in New Zealand.

On this day 100 years ago, during a clash with police, Evans shot Constable Gerald Wade in the stomach, who then struck Evans with his baton.

Evans died the following day in hospital of his injuries.

Constable Wade spent the rest of his life with the bullet lodged in his stomach next to his spine.

Coronial inquiries cleared Mr Wade on any wrong-doing and said he had no choice in hitting Evans.

Ms Carroll said that over the last 100 years, Evans had become a "folk hero" to the New Zealand Federation of Labour.

"They have honoured his death every year."

She said the police exhibition was to recognise Mr Wade and the work he did on behalf of the public and police.

"We thought it was about time that the police side came out."

Included in the exhibition was Mr Wade's baton, gifts presented to him by police for his work and his gramophone.

Mr Wade's grandson, David Walker, has written a book on the incident, Shades of Black, and that will be launched tonight at the museum.

Those attending include Walker and other Wade family members, the Police Association, the Police Executive, members of the police and the Waihi community.

The exhibition will run for about six months.