Key Points:

The police have confirmed a diplomatic protection squad officer discharged a pistol inside an airborne VIP aircraft, but said there was no damage to the plane and former Prime Minister Jim Bolger was not on board. Mr Bolger's former press secretary, Richard Griffin, told a Radio New Zealand panel discussion this week that the officer shot a hole in the side of the plane while Mr Bolger was on board. Police said yesterday that the incident was 15 years ago. "The DPS member followed correct procedures but due to a handling error his pistol discharged into a briefcase. The bullet lodged in the battery pack of a police radio in the briefcase."