1257 days ago

Police pay tribute to fallen officer Matt Ratana

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Matiu "Matt" Ratana, the New Zealand-born police officer killed in the line of duty in the United Kingdom in October, has been remembered by police with a special rugby game.

Auckland police and Counties Manukau police honoured the "strong rugby boy" on Saturday by playing each other in the inaugural game for the Sgt Matt Matiu Ratana Memorial trophy.

Ratana, 54, worked for both districts while policing in New Zealand.

Ratana, 54, who was originally from Hawke's Bay, was shot dead in a South London custody centre on September 25, allegedly by a man who had been detained, while working for Metropolitan Police.

The trophy was funded by former New Zealand Police colleagues and acknowledges Ratana's rank of sergeant in the Metropolitan Police Service.

It bears a huia feather - the police tradition to honour fallen officers.

Also attached to the trophy are blue and white ribbons showing the colours of Auckland and of Ratana's beloved East Grinstead Rugby Football Club.

The commemorative game will become an annual event for police rugby in Auckland and Counties Manukau.

More messages from your neighbours
4 days ago

Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.

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Does the building consent process need to change?
  • 91.4% Yes
    91.4% Complete
  • 8.2% No
    8.2% Complete
  • 0.4% Other - I'll share below!
    0.4% Complete
1195 votes
1 day ago

Lest we forget...

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.

Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.

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9 hours ago

welcome (& help) new neighbour

Julia from Henderson

kia ora lovely neighbours

as some of you know, I love the marketplace on here - (you know people are LOCAL, easy to collect) - and meet such lovely neighbours in the process.

I did not click on the 'ad' for "free house hold stuff" - as I though were GIVING away stuff - and little I need right now.

oh when I did - a very easy mistake to make - ASKING for - not giving away

Amanda & her 2 sons (12 & 16) have just moved here, out west, from Wellington - and looking for a helping hand

so generous neighbours - is there anything surplus to your requirement that you can help Amanda with?

"Hi me an my two sons have just relocated to Glen Eden from Wellington an are looking for few things for our house kitchen table an chairs pots an pans an draws cabinets etc thank you"

"16 and 12 and we are needing dinning table and chairs vacuum kitchen stuff and draws for boys rooms"

I think I have a spare large frying pan - but can't help with the rest....

if you can't help, all good - just if you don't ask, you don't get - (so see Amanda's ad - in Marketplace - under "free house hold stuff" - for her contact info)

peace & love - arohanui