PostSource: New Zealand PolicePolice acknowledge the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into the use of force during an arrest in Whangārei. On 10 January 2023, a vehicle fled from Police and two men then fled on foot through an area of mangroves. A Police dog handler used his Police dog to track the two men, along with two officers, one of who carried a sponge round launcher slung across his front. However, the officer carrying the sponge round claimed the man was resisting arrest and subsequently delivered a palm strike to the man’s face to distract him. During the process of being arrested, the man also received a wound (consistent with the barrel of the sponge round launcher) to the top of his head.