Woman dies in Christchurch police cell after being tasered

Wednesday 27 August 2025 · 6 outlets · 6 reports · updated Wed 27 Aug 2025, 2:18pm

In this story Independent Police Conduct Authority

Sonia Naber was found unresponsive in a Christchurch police cell on Monday morning. She had been tasered by police during a callout in Rakaia involving a knife. The death has been referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Coroner for investigation.

How they headlined it

1:39pm

1. StuffWed 27 Aug 2025, 1:39pm

   ‘Tense and dangerous situation’: Woman died in police custody hours after being tasered (opens in new tab)

2. RNZWed 27 Aug 2025, 1:52pm

   Woman who died in police custody in Christchurch was tasered before her death (opens in new tab)

3. The PressWed 27 Aug 2025, 1:53pm

   Knife-wielding woman tasered by police died hours later (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesWed 27 Aug 2025, 2:11pm

   Woman who died in police cell had been tasered (opens in new tab)

5. NZ HeraldWed 27 Aug 2025, 2:16pm

   Woman died in police cell after ‘tense and dangerous’ police callout in Rakaia, Canterbury (opens in new tab)

6. 1NewsWed 27 Aug 2025, 2:18pm

   Woman who died in police custody had earlier been tasered (opens in new tab)