Waiheke policeman dies suddenly

A policeman charged in 2005 over his role in a motorcade that travelled at up to 172km/h so the then Prime Minister, Helen Clark, wouldn't miss a flight to a Bledisloe Cup rugby test collapsed and died on Waiheke Island yesterday.

Senior Constable Clinton Vallender "was just going about his normal duties" when he died, a police spokeswoman said.

Superintendent Mike Clement said there were no suspicious circumstances.

In 2005, Mr Vallender and two other officers were charged over speeding with the PM from Waimate to Christchurch. He moved to Waiheke in 2012.