Constable Liam Guthrie has returned to his home town of Dunedin to continue his police career after taking a year of leave to travel the world.
As luck would have it, the one role available was to become the Port Chalmers community officer of the sole-charge station, the same station his great-uncle Sergeant Stewart Guthrie was once stationed in.
"It was basically Port Chalmers or nothing — it was kind of meant to be in a way," he said.
On November 13, 1990, Sgt Stewart Graeme Guthrie, 41, was the sole charge officer at Port Chalmers police station and immediately responded to Aramoana after hearing about a firearm being discharged.
During what is now known as the Aramoana massacre, Sgt Guthrie died after being shot by the gunman.
His great-nephew, Const Guthrie, will be working out of the same station, a role he said he was "pretty happy" to be in.
"Growing up in the area and the family connection ... it’s cool, and quite fitting, I think."
Const Guthrie spent the start of his policing career in Porirua, but the intention was always to come home.
After going overseas to travel, it was time to return home and request a transfer to Dunedin.
As luck would have it, the one role open was to be the sole-charge Port Chalmers officer.
He said he "jumped at the chance"
He said in some ways, his role was likely quite different from the one his great-uncle once held as policing was done differently now.
"Great-uncle Stu was the sergeant down there, so he was, yeah, basically running the cutter ... my role’s a little different now because it’s just me out there."
Many members of Const Guthrie’s family have felt the pull of working for the police.
His sister had worked in Dunedin Central police station for the past four years and his father, Superintendent Jason Guthrie, was the "big cheese" of Dunedin policing, Const Guthrie said.
"His day-to-day and my day-to-day look very different," Const Guthrie said.
After spending a year overseas, he was still in the process of doing some refreshers and training, and expected to be working on the beat in the Port Chalmers community by the end of the month.
The community was familiar to him, summers at the family crib in Aramoana had familiarised him with the locals and many of his mates were living in the area.
"I saw Port Chalmers was New Zealand’s most loyal town — they’re a pretty friendly sort of people there."
One of the first port of calls would be to hit town, meet the locals and store owners and get talking.
"I’m excited for it."
