Napier shooting: Handler reunited with dog

Grant Diver was reunited with 'Fi' on Saturday. Photos / Sarah Ivey, supplied

A Napier police officer who crawled to safety after being shot by gunman Jan Molenaar is out of intensive care and has been reunited with his drug dog Fi.

Senior Constable Grant Diver - one of three officers shot during what was supposed to be a low-key cannabis raid on Thursday morning - has been moved to a ward in Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital.

He is reportedly doing much better and had a happy reunion with his 5-year-old German shepherd partner Five-O, or Fi, on Saturday.

Mr Diver's colleague Inspector Mike O'Leary was thrilled to see his long-time mate "on the up" at hospital yesterday.

"He's very grateful for the support he's receiving," Mr O'Leary told the Herald.

Senior Constable Bruce Miller - the third officer struck by Molenaar - is still in intensive care.

Mr O'Leary plans to wait until Mr Miller is released into the ward before visiting.

"I'm not going to see Bruce yet. He's still in intensive care and needs to rest."

Mr O'Leary said he was keeping in close touch with the family of slain officer Senior Constable Len Snee.

Widow Vicki surprised him at the control centre on Saturday and was keeping strong, all things considered, he said.

"She's very strong. All I can say is that [when something like this happens] you go into a real ... I don't know, it's just unbelievable."

Mr O'Leary still can't believe his mate Len Snee is gone. "I'm still numb really. It won't be the same."

Mr O'Leary said the father of two, who was just about to become a granddad, "epitomised team-player" and was recognised far and wide as a great man who was "totally reliable and got the business done".

He and Mr Snee were members of the "Legends" veterans rugby sevens team that had four New Zealand and three Australasian titles to its name.

"He was so passionate about rugby. You just about needed a crowbar to get him off the field."

Former All Black Norm Hewitt yesterday said he had known Mr Snee since 1988.

Mr Hewitt was just out of school when he met the second-five eighths at Napier Technical Old Boys club.

The pair played together for Hawkes Bay.

Mr Hewitt said he spent yesterday looking at 20-year-old rugby photos. It still hadn't sunk in that his mate had been killed.

"He had this mannerism about him, one of those quiet guys who got on with things. Friendly. He was just a top bloke. I remember his boys ... It's still difficult to put all these things together and think in one moment of tragic circumstances he's gone.

"It's been a long time since I caught up with him but you never forget people like Len Snee."

Mr Snee's commitment to everything he did had made a huge impression on him.

"He was a perfectionist by the way he dressed, by the way he spoke. If you could think of someone who set an example by just doing - that was him.

"Those are the people who you always look up to."