Police shooting: Sky Tower lights up in blue to honour Constable Matthew Hunt

The Sky Tower's blue glow illuminated the Auckland skyline in a tribute to fallen officer Matthew Hunt. Photo / Twitter

A bright blue glow embraced Auckland's inner city in the cold winter of last night, as the Sky Tower lit up in honour of Constable Matthew Hunt, shot dead in the line of duty in Massey on Friday.

"Our thoughts are with Constable Hunt's family and the entire New Zealand police community mourning this tragic loss," a statement from Sky City said.

"We would like to convey our deepest gratitude for the hard work every New Zealand police officer displays in safeguarding our community."

NZ Police shared a photo of the blue Sky Tower on social media, thanking everyone for the tributes to the young Constable, whose life-long dream was always to serve in the police force.

"We appreciate the many tributes, words of support, and prayers we have received over the past 24 hours. Aroha nui," they posted to Twitter.

We appreciate the many tributes, words of support, and prayers we have received over the past 24 hours. Aroha nui 💙 pic.twitter.com/oG311nBKic

— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) June 20, 2020

Aucklanders also took to social media to share images of the tower in tribute to Constable Hunt.

View this post on Instagram

#police #nzpolice #skytower #😢

A post shared by Sabine Brooke Geb Sievers (@bine_brooke) on Jun 20, 2020 at 12:21am PDT

View this post on Instagram

Tonight we will glow blue in honour of Auckland Police officer, Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt who was killed in the line of duty. Our thoughts are with Constable Hunt’s family and the entire @newzealandpolice community mourning this tragic loss 💙

A post shared by Sky Tower Auckland (@skytower_nz) on Jun 19, 2020 at 4:46pm PDT

#skytower blue to salute #nzpolice #Auckland #NewZealand pic.twitter.com/ybk0I06oDY

— moonstruck dad (storyteller) (@DadMoonstruck) June 20, 2020

Constable Matthew Dennis Hunt was only 28 when he died during what was meant to be a routine traffic stop in Massey, Auckland.

Hunt started with police as a member of Wing 312 in October 2017.

He spent most of his career working frontline at Orewa and Helensville Stations before recently moving to work in the Waitematā Road Policing Team based at Harbour Bridge Station.

Hunt was raised on the Hibiscus Coast by his mother Diane, with his sister Eleanor.

He attended Orewa College.

"It was his life-long dream to be a police officer," his family said in a statement.

Before joining the police, he completed a BA in criminology and worked at Auckland Prison as a case manager.

He also spent time living in the United Kingdom before he returned to New Zealand to join the police.

"Matthew was a person of great integrity," his family said.

"His closest friends were like his brothers and sisters and they along with his family are absolutely heartbroken by what has happened.

"He was passionate about sport and his physical fitness and was thrilled to enjoy the recent Blues game at Eden Park with his mates."