Recovery prime reason for pledged round of golf

Napier policeman Bruce Miller and Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Prime Minister John Key fulfilled a long-held promise to two police officers wounded in the Napier siege when he teed off for a round of golf with them yesterday.

Key visited Constables Bruce Miller and Grant Diver in the intensive care unit at Hawke's Bay Hospital after they were shot by Napier gunman Jan Molenaar in May last year.

Key said he had a tongue-in-cheek exchange about golf with Miller in the hospital.

"I said [to Miller] when you come through the ordeal we'll get together and play a game of golf. "

Miller, who was club champion last year at the Maraenui Golf Club near Napier, said it was a "special occasion" for him to play nine holes with Key.

He said: "The PM came and visited me at the ICU and at that stage I was in pretty bad health and he made an agreement that he would come and we'd have a game of golf".

Diver caddied for Key, who said beforehand he expected to be "resoundly thumped". The match ended in a draw.

Key added that the game was a chance to reflect on the events of last May where Senior Constable Len Snee was killed.

"We lost a fine police officer in Len Snee and our hearts and thoughts go out to him."