A man from Northland has been accused of causing the death of off-duty police officer Gail Shepherd, who was struck by a car while walking beside a rural road.
Shepherd, 49, was the sole charge constable at Kohukohu for several years and had just transferred to Pukenui, New Zealand’s northernmost police station.
She died at Helena Bay, north of Whangārei, on 20 April as she was walking a relative’s dogs.
The vehicle that struck her also downed a power pole. The alleged 32-year-old driver appeared in Whangārei District Court on Wednesday, facing a charge of reckless driving causing death.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years or a $20,000 fine.
Shepherd was born in Kaitāia and began her police career in Whangārei in 2007. She moved to Pukenui in 2024 to replace her brother, Leon “Smiley” Shepherd.
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania and Police Minister Mark Mitchell praised her. She was also highly regarded in Northland’s waka community, having been at the helm of the waka tētē Te Whānau Moana for nearly a decade.
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