Vale – John Stephen

10 December 1944 – 15 July 2024

A trusted mate with a warm handshake was how John Stephen was remembered by family, friends and colleagues when he was farewelled at a service in Warkworth on July 22. He was also a man with an eclectic mix of interests, which was exemplified by the two guards of honour that formed at the conclusion of his funeral – one by police and the other by the Kaipara Flats Cricket Club. Regional park rangers in uniform also stood to attention as the cortege made its way from the hall to the waiting hearse, which was then escorted from the funeral home by uniformed police on motorcycles. John was also accorded an RSA tribute including the playing of the Last Post and Reveille, and the reciting of the Ode delivered in te reo and English.

Born in Brunswick House, Gloucestershire, the Stephen family emigrated to NZ when John was seven.

They settled in the South Island’s Waimakariri district and John attended Canterbury Boys High School where he excelled at swimming, water polo and cricket.

Witnessing some unruly behaviour at a Rolling Stones concert apparently convinced him that he’d made the right decision to join the NZ Police Force, aged 19. After training at Trentham, he started his long and distinguished career on the beat in Wellington. While in the capital, he served with Wellington CIB and the armed offenders squad. By the time he transferred to Taupo he was married to Maureen and had two small children, Sarah and David. In 1968, the family moved north to Warkworth, where the station in Falls Street was to become his second home until he retired nearly 35 years later.

John’s love of cricket saw him join the Kaipara Flats Sports Association, where he went from player to selector, club captain, president and eventually, Northland delegate, and Life Member No. 19. Obviously his dedication to his job parallelled his love of the game as immediate past president Ian Hudson recalled that John would sometimes play in his uniform when he was on duty. “We always knew when there was going to be checkpoint up the road because we’d see John switch from his favourite DB to orange juice.”

Current president Sam Ryburn described John’s contribution to the club as “immense”. “He became like a father figure to many of the younger members and was always there to point them in the right direction.”

John also had a lifelong interest in pest eradication, particularly in northern regional parks and on Kawau Island. Ranger Phoebe Steele said it was

impossible to quantify his contribution. “The people you have inspired, the trees you have planted and the animals you have protected – our regional parks are a better place thanks to you. Your contribution was immense.” Steele said despite John’s less than enthusiastic embrace of PPE – “getting him to wear ear protection or a helmet was a challenge” – he could always be depended upon to lend a hand where needed, from painting farm gates to chopping wood. “He was a very reassuring presence.”

RSA president Bob Harrison described John as a “good shot”, whether he was aiming a pool cue or a rifle. John was the RSA president from 2013 to 2019, and a Poppy Trust trustee until he died. “He was a good mate to a lot of people, a keen hunter and whitebaiter, and will be sorely missed.”

John passed away peacefully at Harbour Hospice on July 15,aged 79.