A petition was delivered to Parliament on Dec. 2 by Diane Hunt, the mother of slain police officer Matthew Hunt. The petition, signed by more than 39,000 people, is seeking amendments to the Sentencing Act and Parole Act to automatically deny parole for those convicted of murdering police officers.

Speaking on the steps of Parliament in front of crosses commemorating all New Zealand police slain on duty, Diane Hunt said she hoped the pain she had suffered was something no one else would have to go through. Standing alongside were Police Minister Poto Williams, Opposition police spokesperson Simeon Brown and National MP Mark Mitchell, among others. Police Association President Chris Cahill was in attendance for the handover.