An officer was justified in using force during an arrest at Wairoa police station, but shouldn't have used his leg to flip the man onto the floor in the cells, a report has found.
The Independent Conduct Authority's (IPCA) findings into the arrest on January 21 were acknowledged by police on Tuesday.
A man had claimed an officer became aggressive when taking him into a cell. The report found the officer used force to arrest the man.
The authority found the officer was justified in using his leg to take the man to the ground after the man became abusive towards the officer.
The officer was also justified in using his fist to hold the man's head against the floor when he thought the man was going to spit at him.