More than 1000 people have attended a vigil for Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming in Nelson, killed while working early on New Year's Day.
Fleming and another officer, Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsey, were struck by a vehicle in Nelson's Buxton Square just after 2am. She died later that morning in hospital surrounded by family.
Ramsey remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A 32-year-old man appeared in the Nelson District Court on Friday facing eight charges, including murder and attempted murder. He was granted interim name suppression and would appear in the High Court on February 14.
In a statement yesterday Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the incident was "tragic and senseless".
"For New Zealand, Lyn is tragically the first policewoman to be killed in the line of duty and the first police officer in Nelson. I know we are all struggling to understand why this has happened."
Fleming's family wished to acknowledge Nelson Hospital, the members of the public who came to the assistance of the injured officers, and all of those injured in this incident, he said.
The 7pm vigil took place on the steps of the Christ Church Cathedral in Trafalgar Square.
Organiser Shelley Bishop said she did not know Fleming, but felt compelled to act when she heard of the officer's death.
"I actually cried. I've never met her, but I cried."
"I put up a post on Facebook about her passing away and the outpouring of grief was immense, and I thought, 'We need to show our support', so basically within 10 minutes I came up with that idea."
Locals had been donating candles and crafting blue ribbons for the vigil, which would involve performances from a bagpiper, as well as a local talent singing Amazing Grace.
The council had been organising traffic management and police were invited to have a representative speak if they wanted, Bishop said.
Those who could not attend were encouraged to put blue ribbons on their letterboxes as a show of support.
Bishop hoped the vigil would bring the community together, and perhaps ease the "glum" feeling in the town.
"It's just quite surreal, it's just so sad, one police officer ... the ripple effect has literally affected the entire region as well as New Zealand."
Fleming was the first policewoman to be killed in the line of duty, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said.
She was remembered as a "very much loved" leader who served for 38 years, and as a daughter, mother and wife who was long involved in community sport.
Marshall Garrett cycled down to deliver handpicked flowers, while Erin Gurnell had driven up from Christchurch to pay her respects.
"I lived here for three years, and you just think this is the absolute last thing that should happen here - or anywhere," she said.
Amelia Boland had also come down in support of the local police community alongside her two children Freddie and Chester.
"They've lost someone they care about," she told RNZ.
It was not only individuals - or families - but people from local shops, restaurants, churches and community groups too.
Jennifer Macleod, a pastor at Stoke Baptist Church, delivered a large bouquet on behalf of Baptist congregations "in recognition of a very significant loss in our community".
Teary police staff had also come to collect the cards and letters to give to Fleming's family.
