A member of the New Zealand Police , Sergeant Stewart Graeme Guthrie , was the last New Zealand civilian recipient of the George Cross , which is awarded for conspicuous gallantry . He fired a warning shot near a gunman at Aramoana on 13 November 1990 , but was killed by a return shot from the gunman , who also killed twelve others . , 29 police officers have been killed by criminal acts , and about 17 by accident , while in the performance of their official duties . The last policeman to die was Senior Constable Len Snee , who was shot and killed by Jan Molenaar in the 2009 Napier shootings
2009 Napier shootings
2009 Napier shootings
New Zealand Police