Senior Constable Clay Polamalu

New Lynn Community Constable

Obituary

Senior Constable Clay Polamalu. Photo: New Lynn Business Association.

Senior Constable Clay Polamalu passed away on Friday 14 January 2022 at his Point Chevalier home, surrounded by family. Clay was 57 years of age.  He had medically retired from the Police in 2020.

He was farewelled at a service at Eden Park on Tuesday 18 January, attended by almost 500 friends, colleagues and family.  He lay at his family home before a service at his birthplace, Maketu, in the Bay of Plenty at the Whakaue marae before burial at the Wharekahu Cemetery on Thursday 20 January 2022.

Clay was from a large Maketu family, and was related to the late Peter Tapsell, former MP and Minister of Police.   He moved to Auckland at 12 years of age and attended Mt Roskill school and Mt Roskill Grammar School.

A talented rugby player, Clay was a member of the Mt Roskill Senior rugby team for a number of years. He also played rugby in the UK on a working holiday as a young man.

After returning from Europe, he joined the NZ Police, working on the front line and in Youth Aid in West Auckland before taking the role of the New Lynn Community Constable in 2012.

The many speakers at Clay’s Auckland service spoke of a loving husband and father, a wise, kind, and passionate man, and a dedicated officer.

He is survived his wife Carolyn, daughter Kayla, and son Joseph, who are both graduates of Victoria University, Wellington.    

He will be sadly missed by his loving family, numerous friends, the New Lynn community, and the Police family.

Any messages of condolence can be sent to warren.strand@police.govt.nz who will pass them on to Clay’s family.
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Warren Strand
New Lynn Police Station

A great man

At the time Clay joined the New Lynn Policing team, I was the New Lynn Business Association manager. From day one Clay was there to help us to build a better community, working alongside our large business whanau and locals, all for the betterment of communities.

Logical, open minded, and fair, Clay worked in a collaborative, positive, and genuinely compassionate way. Someone recently described Clay as “the go to man” and he certainly was that - both to me personally and our business team.

Clay could always be depended upon to show up at association events, lending support with his calm logic and a smile. He was an integral part of the team at Christmas events, helping with the crowds around Santa, showing the kids the police car, his laugh always at the ready.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of this wonderful man, but we are thankful to have known him and for all that he did. We also thank Warren Strand and the New Lynn Police Station team for their contribution to a better society.

Our deepest condolences and aroha to his family who grieve the loss of an amazing father, husband, and friend. Our thanks to his whanau and work family for sharing Clay with us.

On a personal level, I am so grateful to have known Clay, to have worked alongside him, learned from him. He was a great man and will be very much missed.

Tracy Mulholland
Auckland Councillor, Whau Ward