A Te Puna born constable is one of three officers to have their names added to the Memorial Wall at Police College this year.

Constable Louis Hekenui Bidois, known as Heke, was born in 1899 in Te Puna.

Constable Louis Bidois died in 1955 from a brain injury. Photo: NZ Police.

He was a skilled bushman and hunter, and often put his outdoor skills into use in rescue operations, NZ Police say on its Facebook page.

'One such rescue involved a local artist who used to camp in the bush and return to stay with the Bidois family on weekends.

'When the artist failed to show up one weekend, Heke became concerned for his safety, and went looking for him at his camp.

'Finding the artist very sick with pneumonia, Constable Bidois wrapped him in a blanket and carried him on his back to the nearest town - a distance of 4 miles. Bidois' wife Mere then cared for the artist until he recovered.”

On May 7, 1949, Heke was struck with a bottle while attempting to take two drunken men into custody at a dance in Te Whaiti.

He returned to work after a period of recuperation, but he never fully recovered from the injury to his head.

'He was eventually transferred to Rotorua on permanent sick leave, and retired from the Police in 1953. Constable Bidois died in Rotorua on May 24, 1955, still suffering the effects of the attack.

'His death certificate reports his death was due to brain injury. He was survived by his wife Mere and their three children. Bidois is one of three new names added to the Memorial Wall at Police College on Thursday, September 29.

NZ Police will be live streaming #RemembranceDay on their Facebook.

Police Remembrance Day will take on added significance this year as three more officers who were killed as a result of criminal actions are formally recognised for the first time.

Police Remembrance Day is held every year on September 29, which is the feast day of the Archangel Michael, patron saint of police.

This year the 32 officers slain on duty and 40 officers and employees who have died as result of duty since 1886 will be remembered, along with serving and former constabulary staff and employees who have died in the past year.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor-General of New Zealand will attend the National Remembrance Day Ceremony at Royal New Zealand Police College (RNZPC), her first official engagement as Governor-General.

Commissioner of Police Mike Bush, the Police Executive, and members of the Diplomatic Corps will also join Police staff, family and friends in paying tribute to the fallen officers.

Plaques commemorating the three past slain officers, Constables James Butler, Louis Hekenui Bidois and Detective Constable Ronald Hill, have been added to the Memorial Wall at the RNZPC.

'These staff members have been identified through the ongoing Recognition Project, which was set up three years ago to ensure that we properly acknowledge those who have given their lives in the course of their work,” says Police Commissioner Mike Bush.

Last year the project led to recognition at Remembrance Day of 38 staff members who died through accident or illness arising from their work, alongside the 29 officers killed as a result of a criminal act, who we recognise every year.

'We needed to find a way to honour those who lost their lives in crashes, accidents, explosions, by drowning or from illnesses contracted while carrying out their Police duties.

Their contribution is part of our history and they need to be formally recognised,” says Mike.

This year the Recognition Project has also identified two more officers who died performing their duty: Constable Cecil Orr (who was hit by a train in Auckland, 1942); and Peter Hart (who died in a car crash in Napier, 1974).

Three slain Traffic Officers - John Kehoe, Barry Gibson and Robin Dudding - now also have individual plaques on the Memorial Wall.

Previously they were listed to one side on a joint memorial.

'Police has employed many thousands of people in our 130-year history.

Identifying those who died as a result of their duties is a big task and despite our best efforts there may be people who have been inadvertently missed or whose families believe should be included but aren't on the current list.

'Being able to pay formal tribute to the additional staff this year is another step in the continuing process of the Recognition Project.

"We're very willing to consider further information that becomes available and include anyone who meets the criteria,” says Mr Bush.

Research to date has established that 40 employees have so far met the criteria, which are that the person must have been a Police employee and have died as a direct result of injuries sustained or illness or disease contracted in the course of their Police duties.

The first person to die as a result of duty was Senior Constable Henry Porter, who was aged 41 when he accidentally drowned while doing his night rounds in Port Chalmers on 21 June 1887.

Other deaths include the crew of the Eagle helicopter, who were killed when it collided with a fixed wing aircraft over Auckland on 26 November 1993, and a member of the Christchurch Child Protection Unit who died when the CTV building collapsed in the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.

Remembrance Day services honour Police colleagues in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific who have been killed on duty or died in service in the preceding year.

Former staff members who have died in the past 12 months are also remembered.