The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found officers were justified in the fatal shooting of Hamilton man Joel Buckley.
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Joel Buckley was shot dead in Hamilton on 14 July last year.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found the police shooting was justified in self-defence, and officers showed courage and professionalism.
However, it also found "significant failures" in decisions relating to Buckley's firearms licence, and said the case was not attended to in a timely manner.
Police said they received information from a phone call to the emergency communications centre on 9 July stating that Buckely had made threats against others and was the owner of firearms.
Three days later, Hamilton police paid a visit to Buckley's former partner seeking any relevant information. They continued this over the next two days.
On 14 July Buckley became aware of the police inquiries and a risk assessment by police determined he should be located and arrested that day.
Police went to locate Buckley at his home, however, a confrontation began and shots were fired by both police and Buckley.
Buckley died at the scene from gunshot wounds.
Supt Bruce Bird Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Waikato District Commander Superintendent Bruce Bird accepted the IPCA's findings.
"This was a challenging and high-stress situation and Mr Buckley's death was an outcome that no one wanted."
The IPCA found the emergency communication centre incorrectly coded the initial call made to police on 9 July and that police failed to attend in a timely manner.
The police said Hamilton staff did not begin making inquiries in the expected timeframe, because of the wrong coding, but ultimately accepted the IPCA's findings.
The IPCA also found police returned two rifles to Buckley and failed to investigate whether he was a fit and proper person to have a firearms licence.
Superintendent Richard Wilson said he acknowledged the findings in relation to the firearms.
"We have further work to do to understand the full circumstances which led to the return of these firearms.
"Police does accept the IPCA's overall findings in relation to firearms licensing, and in this instance, we did not act on information available to us about his suitability."
