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Murder of Matthew Hunt

SOLVED2020Massey, Auckland, New Zealand3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026

Documents violence — written to inform, not to shock.

Illustrative

Matthew Dennis Hunt was a 28-year-old constable in the New Zealand Police, born on 30 July 1991. He had served for two and a half years, mostly as a frontline officer in his hometown of Orewa, before a temporary rotation to the Impairment Prevention Team based at the Auckland Harbour Bridge Police Station. He joined the police in October 2017 as part of Wing 312, trained at the Royal New Zealand Police College. He was raised by his mother and sister on the Hibiscus Coast and attended Orewa College, and had reportedly dreamed of becoming a police officer since studying criminology and working in prisons.

On 19 June 2020, at approximately 10:37 am, Hunt and Constable David Goldfinch were conducting routine traffic duties in Massey, Auckland. After checking a vehicle against the police database and finding alerts on the registered owner, they attempted to intercept the car. The driver, later identified as Eli Epiha, fled and crashed into a parked vehicle on Reynella Drive, injuring a bystander. When Goldfinch approached to render aid, Epiha emerged with a Norinco semi-automatic firearm and opened fire. Hunt radioed for backup as shots were fired. Goldfinch was struck by four of nine shots before reaching cover and radioing his location. Hunt, having lost contact with Goldfinch, left the patrol vehicle to find him; Epiha returned and shot Hunt multiple times. Hunt made a final radio transmission before losing consciousness and died at the scene. Epiha then retrieved a second firearm and forced a resident to drive him away. Goldfinch survived his injuries after being assisted by members of the public.

A large manhunt followed, involving the Armed Offenders Squad and police helicopters, with multiple schools placed in lockdown. Police later stormed a home in West Harbour and arrested a fleeing driver using road spikes. A 24-year-old man, later named as Eli Epiha, was charged that night with murder, attempted murder, and dangerous driving causing injury. A 30-year-old woman, Natalie Bracken, was subsequently sought and taken into custody, facing charges including driving offences and being an accessory to murder.

In July 2021, Epiha pleaded guilty to Hunt's murder and dangerous driving causing injury, but was found guilty by jury of the attempted murder of Goldfinch after previously denying intent to kill him. On 10 December 2021, Justice Venning sentenced Epiha to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 27 years, rejecting claims of recklessness without intent. Epiha's appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 27 November 2022.

Natalie Bracken was convicted on 27 July 2021 of being an accessory after the fact to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was sentenced in October 2021 to twelve months' imprisonment. The court rejected her claim that she acted under duress. Bracken was later separately convicted of unrelated drug offences in 2023, receiving a five-year-nine-month sentence in February 2024.

The killing prompted national tributes, including statements from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other political leaders, and the Auckland Sky Tower being lit in police-blue colours. Hunt was posthumously awarded the New Zealand Bravery Decoration in December 2024, presented to his mother in May 2025. An inquiry into his death was announced in December 2023 as not proceeding, as relevant recommendations had already been addressed by police.

Key facts

Victims
David Goldfinch, Matthew Hunt
Date
2020
Location
Massey, Auckland, New Zealand
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1991-07-30

    Matthew Dennis Hunt is born.

  2. 2017-10

    Hunt joins the New Zealand Police as part of Wing 312.

  3. 2020-06-19

    Hunt and Constable David Goldfinch are shot during a traffic stop in Massey, Auckland; Hunt dies at the scene and Goldfinch is wounded.

  4. 2020-06-19

    A 24-year-old man, later identified as Eli Epiha, is charged with murder, attempted murder, and dangerous driving causing injury.

  5. 2020-06-20

    Natalie Bracken is sought by police and taken into custody in West Auckland.

  6. 2020-06-20

    Epiha is arraigned in Waitakere District Court and remanded into custody.

  7. 2020-07-09

    Hunt's funeral is held.

  8. 2020-08-14

    Epiha's name suppression lapses after he abandons his appeal for suppression.

  9. 2021-07

    Epiha pleads guilty to Hunt's murder and dangerous driving causing injury, but not guilty to attempted murder of Goldfinch.

  10. 2021-07-27

    Epiha is found guilty of attempted murder of Goldfinch; Bracken is convicted of being an accessory after the fact to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

  11. 2021-10-01

    Bracken is sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.

  12. 2021-12-10

    Epiha is sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 27 years.

  13. 2022-02

    Bracken fails to appear in court in Kaitaia for a bail breach hearing and an arrest warrant is issued.

  14. 2022-10-07

    Epiha appeals his sentence to the Court of Appeal.

  15. 2022-11-27

    The Court of Appeal rejects Epiha's sentence appeal.

  16. 2022-12

    Bracken is found attempting to hide methamphetamine during a police raid at her home.

  17. 2023-09

    Bracken and her partner plead guilty to drug supply-related charges.

  18. 2023-12-19

    It is announced that an inquiry into Hunt's death will not proceed.

  19. 2024-02

    Bracken is sentenced to five years and nine months imprisonment for methamphetamine-related offending.

  20. 2024-12-06

    Hunt is posthumously awarded the New Zealand Bravery Decoration.

  21. 2025-05-20

    Hunt's mother receives the insignia of the Bravery Decoration at a ceremony at Government House, Auckland.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Eli Epiha

    CONVICTED

    Pleaded guilty to Hunt's murder and dangerous driving causing injury; found guilty of attempted murder of Constable Goldfinch; sentenced to life imprisonment with a 27-year minimum non-parole period

    citation on file

  • David Goldfinch

    VICTIM

    Police constable wounded during the same incident; survived his injuries

    citation on file

  • Natalie Bracken

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of being an accessory after the fact to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm; later convicted separately of methamphetamine-related offences

    citation on file

  • Matthew Hunt

    VICTIM

    New Zealand Police constable killed during a traffic stop on 19 June 2020

    citation on file

Places

Massey, Auckland, New Zealand

-36.8429, 174.6103

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
New Zealand Police Constable Matthew Hunt was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Massey, Auckland, on 19 June 2020. Eli Epiha pleaded guilty to his murder, and Natalie Bracken was convicted as an accessory after the fact.
Where did the murder happen?
Massey, Auckland, New Zealand.
Who was convicted?
Eli Epiha (Pleaded guilty to Hunt's murder and dangerous driving causing injury; found guilty of attempted murder of Constable Goldfinch; sentenced to life imprisonment with a 27-year minimum non-parole period) and Natalie Bracken (Convicted of being an accessory after the fact to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm; later convicted separately of methamphetamine-related offences).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.

Sources

  1. Murder of Matthew Huntwikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Update: Police locate Natalie Brackennews · police.govt.nz · 2026-07-07
  3. New Zealand police officer shot dead in Auckland traffic stopnews · BBC News · 2026-07-07
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