Police were justified in their use of force at a huge brawl in the Far North nearly two years ago, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) found after reviewing the incident.
The fight on October 8 in 2022 outside Kaitaia's Awanui Hotel involved a crowd of "about 80 people", police said.
"Three officers attempted to disperse the crowd, with one using pepper spray on a group of about five people who were refusing to leave," a police spokesperson said this morning.
"The group then moved away, except one man who came towards the officer in an aggressive manner.
"The officer pepper sprayed the man for a second time and then arrested him before giving him a formal warning for disorderly behaviour," the spokesperson said.
The man later complained that the use of pepper spray was excessive.
Superintendent Matt Srhoj, Northland's district commander, said the officer "feared for his own safety as well as those around him".
"The IPCA found the officer was justified in using this tactic in these circumstances," he said.
The man also complained he wasn't offered any decontamination treatment until they were back at the police station.
“The man was provided treatment once back at the station, however we acknowledge we should have offered this sooner," Srhoj said.
"As such, police has recently distributed further guidance to Northland officers to provide aftercare as soon as possible following the use of pepper spray.
"I'm proud of our staff, who regularly put themselves in harm's way to serve the communities they live in."
The officer has since left the police for unrelated reasons.
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