"It is a cop's worst day when you have to use force against another person. If you inflict injury. Nobody wants to do that. Sometimes it's reality you have to use force to protect yourself and other members of the public."
A Taser was another tool in a police officer's tool kit and the association was in favour of staff having them, Mr Thompson said.
Ken Evans, a Tauranga spokesman for the Sensible Sentencing Trust, said the figures showed Tasers were a deterrent.
"The person being approached by police is aware of the power of the Taser and they are conforming to what the police want," he said.
New Zealand First MP Clayton Mitchell said carrying Tasers was a far better option than carrying firearms. They were a good defence mechanism for police, who came face to face with some of the worst-behaved people in society.
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said Tasers helped ensure the safety of New Zealand communities and their front-line officers.
"The fact they are being drawn and not fired shows they are effective deterrents in de-escalating potentially dangerous situations."
Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said Tasers were part of the tool kit police had to defuse situations and keep people safe.
Police manager for capability Inspector Jason Ross said Tasers were the least injury-causing tactical option used by police.
They typically had an injury rate of about 1 per cent compared with about 24 per cent for batons, about 3 per cent for pepper spray and about 89 per cent for dogs.
The presentation of a Taser alone stopped violent behaviour more than 80 per cent of the time, Mr Ross said.
Tasers
- Nationwide, Tasers were displayed 534 times and fired 82 times in the first seven months of this year.
- They were displayed 4196 times over the five previous years and fired 623 times.
- Their use spiked in 2013, when Tasers were displayed 985 times and discharged 150 times.
- Tasers were first introduced in 2008 and officers were armed incrementally.