The mother of murdered Auckland police officer Matthew Hunt is disappointed the coroner won't open an inquest into her son's death.
Diane Hunt is not satisfied enough has been done to protect officers on duty and believes it's time for a national conversation about arming them.
Const Hunt, 28, was shot dead on the job and, more than three years on, Diane is still fighting to improve the safety of his colleagues.
"Matthew's given his life for his job and his police uniform was the target that day," she said.
But on Tuesday she was told an inquiry into her son's death will not be opened by the coroner.
"I'm bitterly disappointed," Diane said of the decision.
Matthew died in June 2020 when he and his colleague Const Dave Goldfinch approached a crashed vehicle on Reynella Dr in west Auckland.
The driver, Eli Epiha, got out and shot at them 14 times then fled - leaving Matthew to die at the scene. His killer was given a life sentence of a minimum 27 years.
On Tuesday, however, the coroner ruled out an inquest into Matthew's death, saying "these matters have been adequately identified and addressed by the steps already taken by police".
Those steps include a new tactical response model; officers are still generally unarmed but receive enhanced tactical training.
"Coming from somebody who was the lead negotiator for New Zealand Police, in some situations, negotiating is not an option," former officer Lance Burdett said.
The coroner described Matthew as a "hero" who "did not hesitate to go to the assistance of his partner, despite being unarmed and facing an offender with a semi-automatic weapon".
Diane believes, however, it's time for a national conversation about arming officers to defend themselves.
"Sending Matthew and Dave out with no guns was, in my mind, so unfair," Diane told Newshub.
"I think it's a conversation that needs to happen now," Burdett agreed.
Police told Newshub despite no formal inquest being held, they are committed to engaging with Diane and answering any remaining questions she has over the death of her son.
"I really feel for those people - those officers - who go out every day approaching cars, not knowing if that will be their last day," Diane said.
Because for her son, it was his last day - and she doesn't want it to happen again.
