Police farewell star police dog Gazza

Gazza farewelled by police, wrapped in a New Zealand flag. Photo / NZ Police

Police have shared a touching photo of slain 4-year-old police dog Gazza wrapped in a New Zealand flag as he was farewelled for the last time today.

Gazza was shot in an armed siege in Porirua last Friday morning by Pita Tekira, who was on the run after ditching his electronic monitoring bracelet.

"Today we said farewell to our friend and colleague, Wellington Police Dog Gazza," police wrote in tribute to the German shepherd.

"His job was to obey, serve and protect. This he bravely did."

National co-ordinator of police dogs, inspector Todd Southall, said a plaque bearing Gazza's name and his service details would be placed on a memorial wall at the Police Dog Training Centre in Trentham, alongside other police dogs who have been killed on duty.

Gazza became an operational police patrol dog in late 2013.

Gazza and his handler Constable Josh Robertson had been a very effective team for the Wellington Police District since then, Mr Southall said. Gazza recently became an uncle as sister Gypsy gave birth to 11 puppies.

One will become a police dog.

His other sister Gabby is a patrol dog in Hamilton and his aunt Hades is a patrol dog in Wellington.