The family of slain policewoman Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming joined police at a community candlelight vigil in Nelson to honour her life. Video / Katrina Bennett
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be attending the funeral of killed Nelson policewoman Lyn Fleming, cutting short an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Luxon, who will depart New Zealand tomorrow, had planned to spend two days in Abu Dhabi and Dubai but had the trip halved to ensure he could return for the funeral.
“[It’s] really important because [Lyn was] an incredible person, a massive amount of public service, a 38-year record in the police, a family that is just all about public service ... and I just want them to know that we feel that pain, that loss,” he told the Herald.
“I want our police to know that we care deeply about them, we’re very grateful for them doing an incredibly challenging, difficult job as we’ve just seen.
“It’s such a horrible set of circumstances but it’s important to acknowledge the contribution that Lyn made to her community and to New Zealand.”
Luxon said he hadn’t yet spoken to Fleming’s family, saying he was waiting to do so in person.
The National/New Zealand First coalition agreement stated the Government’s commitment to introduce a new bill that would introduce minimum mandatory prison sentences for people who assaulted first responders.
PM Christopher Luxon (left) and Deputy PM Winston Peters (right). National and NZ First had agreed to progress legislation targeting those who assaulted first responders. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A similar bill, introduced by then-NZ First MP Darroch Ball, did not make it through the House in 2021.
Luxon said Cabinet had not met since Fleming’s death and as such, had not discussed any legislative response.
However, he said he was “very open” to looking at whether any changes were needed.
The reason for Luxon’s trip was the signing of the coalition Government’s first free trade deal, called a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was finalised with the UAE in September.
The deal meant duties on almost all of New Zealand’s exports to the UAE would be eliminated from day one. Two-way trade was currently valued at $1.3 billion.
“The UAE is our trusted partner in the Middle East, it’s a young country, it’s come a long way, it’s deeply innovative ... but importantly, to have 98.5% of our exports to the UAE tariff-free from day one, it’s actually a big deal,” Luxon said.
Luxon would hold an official meeting with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as well as other ministers and members of the royal family, some responsible for sovereign wealth funds Luxon hopes will be interested in investing in New Zealand.
He was also expected to deliver a speech on renewable energy as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, as well as attending a gala dinner where he’ll interact with other world leaders, including those from Malaysia, Italy and Finland.
While in the Middle East, Luxon sought to discuss regional developments including the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah and the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.
“Obviously it’s important that the ceasefire with Hezbollah holds and is maintained, we’ve obviously got a change of regime in Syria, that’s happened since sort of the end of last year as well and that transition I’m interested to get a sense of how they perceive that and what that would mean with the rebel forces taking over.”
Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.
