IPCA finds officer justified in punching man choking police dog
Thursday 10 September 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated In this story Independent Police Conduct Authority
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has ruled that officers were justified in using force during an arrest in Kaikohe. The incident involved a man who rammed two patrol cars and subsequently choked a police dog. Police have acknowledged the watchdog's findings regarding the use of force.
Key facts
3 facts
- IPCA found police force and dog bite justified in Kaikohe, May 17, 2025
- The 40-year-old man was convicted of serious driving and violence offences
- A urine sample from the man tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has ruled that police officers were justified in using force during an arrest in Kaikohe in May 2025. The investigation focused on an incident where a 40-year-old man was bitten by a police dog and subsequently punched by an officer. IPCA chairperson Judge Kenneth Johnston KC found that the dog bite and the physical force used to stop the man from choking the dog were justified.
The incident began when a man driving a ute rammed two police patrol cars before driving away at speed. Officers later located the vehicle at a nearby sports field. A police dog handler tracked the man into scrub, where police say the man attempted to run and refused voice commands to surrender.
Police state the dog was released and bit the man, who then used both hands to choke the dog around the neck. An officer arrived and punched the man in the face and torso to force him to release the dog. While the man suffered a significant bite injury and required surgery, the IPCA concluded that police fulfilled their duty of care regarding his medical needs.
The man, referred to as Mr X, disputed the officers' accounts, claiming he lay down to surrender and was bitten on the leg without warning. He alleged an officer dropped a knee onto his neck and punched him in the head, causing him to lose consciousness. However, officers maintained the dog was deployed because the man was escaping, and the strikes were necessary to protect the dog.
Where reports differ
- Mr X claimed he was lying down to surrender when the dog bit him, while officers stated the dog was released because he was attempting to flee
- The man alleged an officer used a knee on his neck and a boot to tap his face, whereas officers stated they used punches to the torso and face to stop him from choking the dog
Compiled from reports by Stuff, 1News and NZ Herald.