The match, played under lights on a still Wellington night on July 9, marked the 20th anniversary of the death of former Constable Ngahau Taiapa, who was killed in an off-duty car crash. His brother, Constable Taua Taiapa, played for the Police team.

Also playing for Police was 16-year-old Carter Gifford, son of the late Senior Constable Dean Gifford, from Hutt Valley Police, and Penny Gifford, a serving inspector at PNHQ.

Featuring in the Parliamentarian team were local MPs Ginny Anderson and Chris Bishop, as well as Auckland MPs Simon Watts and Simeon Brown. Speaker of the House and Hutt local Trevor Mallard ran the touch line for the match to aid referee Constable Simon Mallon.

There was also a “turncoat” among the Parliamentarians side with a former captain of the Police side, ex-Police Association president Greg O’Connor, switching allegiances for the match in his current role as MP for Ōhāriu.

Aiding the Parliamentarians was the star power of World Cup winner Piri Weepu, fellow former All Black halfback Ofisa “Junior” Tonu’u and Māori All Black Matua Parkinson.

Tries proved hard to come by, with the Parliamentarians scoring three to Police’s two, and the final score was 15-10.

Carter Gifford picked up “Player of the Day” awarded by Police dog-handler-turned-MP Mark Mitchell. Police Minister Poto Williams was among the spectators.

Following the hit out, Police captain Sergeant Bennett Quinn and Greg O’Connor thanked everyone involved in the evening. The night wrapped up with some post-match yarns, particularly about the decade-long domination by the Police Rugby Team in the Senior 4 competition at Petone Rugby Club.

A few items were donated, one being a signed Māori All Blacks playing jersey that was auctioned on Trade Me to raise money for the “I am Hope” charity.

The teams also remembered three other Hutt Valley officers who have died, Sergeant Jamie Bradley, Sergeant Ben O’Connor and Senior Sergeant Geoff Hancock.