Back
1472 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
15 minutes ago

Lawns by Barney

Melissa from Takapuna

Kia Ora!

My partner Barney has just started his lawn mowing business, Lawns by Barney. 🌿

If you or anyone you know are looking for someone to do any type of lawn maintenance (lawn-mowing, edging, trimming, weeding, insect/weed spraying) please don't hesitate to give Barney a call! 🌲

Whether it's a once-off or on an on-going basis, get in touch, comment below or flick me a message and I'll pass you on.

You can text/call him on 022 059 3544 or email lawnsbybarney@gmail.com.

He offers free quotes too! ☺️

4 days ago

Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.

John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!

As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!

John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.

Share your question below now ⬇️

Image
1 hour ago

Sponsored Community Event for Heart Patients and Heart Event Survivors

Trent Lash from Heartbeats North Shore

Almost a third of all heart patients and heart event survivors are diagnosed as clinically depressed - that's understandable when you have faced a life-threatening and life-changing situation.

If you've faced such a situation, and would like to know more about how to deal with it. . . or learn where to go for professional help, come along to this FREE, AND INFORMAL talk tomorrow evening Thursday, 7pm at the Sunnynook Community Centre, 148 Sycamore Drive, at 7pm.

Talk and presentation by Vanessa Garcia, M.Sc. (Psychology) Health Psychologist specializing in anxiety and showing ways of getting back your life.

EVERYONE WITH A HEART ISSUE IS WELCOME. Bring your partner and family - you're all in it together! See you there.