Gisborne Herald
  • Gisborne Herald Home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport

Locations

  • Gisborne
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Hawke's Bay

Media

  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Gisborne

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Gisborne Herald

Gisborne cop sanctioned over lost taser

Gisborne Herald
16 Jan, 2024 11:52 PMQuick Read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌

Subscriber benefit

The ability to gift paywall-free articles is a subscriber only benefit. See more offers by clicking the button below.

Already a subscriber?  Sign in here
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Police in New Zealand have used bright-yellow X2 tasers since they were introduced here in 2010. A new model of tasers will be rolled out over the next three years, as production of the X2 will soon cease. The new model will not have a built-in camera as most other jurisdictions rely on body-worn cameras to record taser use; whether New Zealand Police will start using body-worn cameras is being considered separately. RNZ file picture  of a police demonstration of the X2 taser.
Police in New Zealand have used bright-yellow X2 tasers since they were introduced here in 2010. A new model of tasers will be rolled out over the next three years, as production of the X2 will soon cease. The new model will not have a built-in camera as most other jurisdictions rely on body-worn cameras to record taser use; whether New Zealand Police will start using body-worn cameras is being considered separately. RNZ file picture of a police demonstration of the X2 taser.

Police in New Zealand have used bright-yellow X2 tasers since they were introduced here in 2010. A new model of tasers will be rolled out over the next three years, as production of the X2 will soon cease. The new model will not have a built-in camera as most other jurisdictions rely on body-worn cameras to record taser use; whether New Zealand Police will start using body-worn cameras is being considered separately. RNZ file picture of a police demonstration of the X2 taser.

A Gisborne police officer has been sanctioned for failing to promptly report a missing taser.

According to a notice published last month on the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s website, the authority oversaw a police investigation into the missing taser, which was said to have become dislodged from the officer’s holster during a disorder incident.

The weapon was subsequently picked up by a member of the public.

Findings of the police investigation were that the taser likely became dislodged due to a mechanical failure of the holster, which the officer would not have realised at the time.

However, police found the officer failed to promptly report the missing weapon and failed to follow instructions from supervisors.

Keep up to date with the day's biggest stories

Sign up to our daily curated newsletter for the day's top stories straight to your inbox.
Please email me competitions, offers and other updates. You can stop these at any time.
By signing up for this newsletter, you agree to NZME’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Those actions breached the police code of conduct and caused avoidable delays in recovering the taser.

The officer was given a confidential employment sanction.

The IPCA said it agreed with the findings.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

■  Police were unable to immediately answer how many tasers had gone missing in Gisborne over the years, but sought the public’s help during 2016 to locate one.


Police to start replacing their current taser model this year

Police will begin a three-year rollout to replace their fleet of tasers this year as the model they have used for more than a decade will soon no longer be produced.

Tasers have been used as a prevention tool by New Zealand Police since their introduction in 2010.

In an announcement last September, Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura said replacing the fleet was an important part of equipping officers to keep themselves and communities safe.

“Our officers can consistently rely on them to de-escalate violent behaviour.

“They are an effective less-lethal tactical alternative to a firearm and help achieve safer outcomes for police and communities.

“In 82 percent of incidents where a taser is presented, the presentation alone, without discharging, is enough for the situation to be successfully de-escalated.

“With our current taser fleet nearing its end of life and components of the model we use no longer being manufactured, we need to ensure our staff have the best tools available to them to keep themselves, and our communities, safe.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“While our current taser has a built-in camera, the new model does not.

“New taser devices are not manufactured with a built-in camera – most other jurisdictions rely on body-worn cameras to record taser use.

“New Zealand Police do not currently use body-worn cameras.

“The wider question of whether body-worn cameras are appropriate for the New Zealand policing environment, and what that might look like, is being considered separately.

“It’s a decision that will need to be taken carefully with the right legal consideration as well as engagement with communities and police staff,” Ms Kura said.

Axon, a taser manufacturer in Arizona, released the Taser 10 last year. It can shoot 10 probes before having to reload, for a distance up to 13m or half a basketball court; X2s shoot just 7.6m.

Axon, which says its mission is to “protect life and make the bullet obsolete”, has revived a much-opposed plan to put tasers on drones.

A controversy surrounding tasers erupted in Australia last May after the death of a 95-year-old woman who was tasered by police there.

Subscriber benefit

The ability to gift paywall-free articles is a subscriber only benefit. See more offers by clicking the button below.

Already a subscriber?  Sign in here
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Gisborne Herald

Gisborne Herald

Waikaremoana Lake Great Walk's popularity on the rise

11 Jul 12:00 AM
Gisborne Herald

Dementia workshop to provide support and guidance for carers

10 Jul 10:00 PM
Gisborne HeraldUpdated

Mahia Hunt holds final fixture after marking 125th anniversary

10 Jul 09:05 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
What it’s like staying at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva 
Travel

What it’s like staying at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva 

11 Jul 12:05 AM
How tinned fish became the star of dining trends
Lifestyle

How tinned fish became the star of dining trends

11 Jul 12:00 AM
Northland needs unity for $977m regional deal, minister advises
Northern Advocate

Northland needs unity for $977m regional deal, minister advises

11 Jul 12:00 AM
'Still loving it': Libraries manager reflects on retirement decision
Northern Advocate

'Still loving it': Libraries manager reflects on retirement decision

11 Jul 12:00 AM
'Moments are priceless': Silver Ferns stars reunite for TV reality show
Bay of Plenty Times

'Moments are priceless': Silver Ferns stars reunite for TV reality show

11 Jul 12:00 AM

Latest from Gisborne Herald

Waikaremoana Lake Great Walk's popularity on the rise

Waikaremoana Lake Great Walk's popularity on the rise

11 Jul 12:00 AM

The number of bed night opening day bookings for the walk has risen 18% from a year ago.

Dementia workshop to provide support and guidance for carers

Dementia workshop to provide support and guidance for carers

10 Jul 10:00 PM
Mahia Hunt holds final fixture after marking 125th anniversary

Mahia Hunt holds final fixture after marking 125th anniversary

10 Jul 09:05 PM
'Angel riding with us': Teen jockey remembered for selfless act just before tragic death

'Angel riding with us': Teen jockey remembered for selfless act just before tragic death

10 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Gisborne Herald
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Gisborne Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search