Three search warrants executed over TV3's gun-buying sting

TV3 journalist and presenter of Story opens the box of a .22 rifle that she bought over the internet using fake documentation. Photo / Supplied

The police inquiry into the gun-buying sting at TV3's Story show has now seen three search warrants executed, including the one used to search the home of co-host Heather du Plessis-Allan.

One of those was at TV3's Auckland offices and was carried out with advance warning, with detectives arranging to collect material set out in the search warrant.

One of the other warrants was served in Wellington, as was the one which saw officers access Du Plessis-Allan's home.

A spokeswoman said: "We have obtained several items which we had been seeking in order to conduct a full and thorough investigation."

Search warrants against media organisations are unusual events and require police to use them only after making special checks.

On Tuesday, detectives working on the case had used a search warrant to enter the home Du Plessis-Allan shares with husband Barry Soper, Newstalk ZB's political editor.

Police took the step of seeking the legal orders after the current affairs programme showed how it was able to obtain a firearm by entering false details on a mail order form, including manufacturing false police details.

Four days after the order was placed with Gun City, Du Plessis-Allan was filmed collecting a .22 rifle at an unidentified delivery address.

Police announced an investigation immediately, and changed the mail order system.

In the wake of the investigation, it emerged there were no known cases of manipulation of the mail order system.

A spokeswoman for TV3 said it could not comment because a police investigation was under way.